Kyle Hendricks (Creative Commons: apardavila)
Kyle Hendricks was used in relief Wednesday night and the results were all too familiar. Kyle went 3.2 innings and gave up three earned runs. Even more telling was the performance actually LOWERED his ERA to 10.16. He really shouldn’t be on the Chicago Cubs major league roster.
Hendricks is the last member of the 2016 World Series winning team and fans and management love him. And rightfully so. But it’s time for the team to get past the Jethro Tull mindset and stop Living in the Past. If they don’t, they will be employing the mindset of another Jethro Tull album, Thick as a Brick.
When Kyle came in last night, I tweeted this: #CraigCounsell, intent on killing whatever chances the #Cubs might have of winning this game is bringing in #KyleHendricks. And that was indeed the case. Of course, a person didn’t have to be psychic to predict that.
That’s a poor way for a Cubs’ legend to go out.
Money is always a factor
Kyle is making $16 million this season. That’s a sunk cost. To keep using him to justify the contract would be compounding the problem. Hendricks is also less than two months away from having ten years in major league service time. If the Cubs are serious about winning that won’t factor in the decision to let him hang on or go. And he should go.
If Hendricks had as high of a spin rate on his breaking stuff as Cubs management does in making excuses for his lack of success, he would be a legitimate ace. It’s painful to watch Cubs personnel contort themselves to try to explain away Kyle’s problems. Soft contact, missed locations, poor mechanics have all been used as reasons/excuses for Kyle’s demise.
It’s time to face reality and move on. The Cubs are constantly putting a strain on their bullpen. They really don’t have a place to stash Kyle. Not if they are serious about winning.
But there are situations worse than Kyle’s
Jose Abreu is now back with the Astros. Abreu is coming off a bad 2023 season, but his 2024 season has been horrendous. He is hitting .104 with an OPS of .274 with no home runs and four RBIs. Abreu accepted a minor league assignment and after limited success, was called back to Houston. He hasn’t produced anything yet.
Abreu’s contract calls for $19.5 million in 2024 and another 19.5 in 2025. Houston, we have a problem. There’s less sentiment surrounding Abreu’s situation than Kendricks so he will probably be cut adrift soon.
Other contracts to keep an eye on
Xander Bogaerts will be out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. He was hitting .219 when he went down and had been switched to second base. Bogaerts is 31 years old and his contract calls for him to make almost $25.5 million per season through the 2033 season. That’s not going to age well.
Carlos Correa is having a decent season with the Twins but is scheduled to make over $37 million in 2025. That tapers down to a little over $31 million in 2028, followed by a series of team options.
Trea Turner was okay for the Phillies last season after getting over a slow start. Turner is currently 31 and will be making over $27 million until his age 40 season in 2033.
So, down the road a number of team will be facing tough economic decisions.
Enjoy sports trivia? Check this out: Yesterday’s Heroes Sports Quizzes: Sports Trivia for Baby Boomers eBook : Lambert, Larry: Amazon.com.au: Kindle Store
