The Los Angeles Angels have made a notable addition to their pitching staff, agreeing to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with former Chicago Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks. The signing, first reported by ESPN, brings a proven veteran presence to a rotation filled with young, promising arms.
A Familiar Face Returns Home
For Hendricks, this represents a homecoming of sorts. The 34-year-old grew up in Southern California and was originally drafted by the Angels in the 39th round back in 2008. While he opted to attend Dartmouth instead, the connection runs even deeper – his father worked in the Angels’ ticket office for six years during Hendricks’ teenage years.
Kyle has always had a soft spot for the Angels organization. It’s where his baseball journey began, and to come full circle like this is really special for him and our family.
– A source close to the Hendricks family
Seeking a Bounce-Back Year
Hendricks is coming off a challenging 2024 season with the Cubs, posting a 5.92 ERA over 27 starts. However, he showed promising signs in the second half after a stint in the bullpen, compiling a respectable 4.41 ERA from mid-July onward. His final start was a masterpiece – 7.1 shutout innings to cap off his 11-year tenure in Chicago.
The Angels are banking on Hendricks rediscovering the form that made him one of baseball’s most consistent pitchers for the better part of a decade. From 2014-2020, the crafty righty posted a stellar 3.14 ERA and 1.10 WHIP, even capturing the ERA title during the Cubs’ historic World Series run in 2016.
Veteran Presence for a Young Staff
Beyond his on-field contributions, Hendricks figures to play a key role as a mentor for the Angels’ stable of young arms. Starters like Reid Detmers, Griffin Canning, and Chris Rodriguez have all flashed potential but are still finding their footing at the major league level. Having a cerebral, experienced pitcher like Hendricks to learn from could prove invaluable.
Kyle is one of the smartest pitchers I’ve ever been around. He may not light up the radar gun, but his ability to outthink hitters and exploit weaknesses is second to none. Our young guys are going to benefit tremendously from having him in their corner.
– A member of the Angels coaching staff
With Hendricks slotting in alongside Shohei Ohtani at the top of the rotation, the Angels have added some much-needed depth and stability to a staff that ranked 25th in ERA last season. If he can bounce back to even a fraction of his prior form, this signing could prove to be one of the shrewdest moves of the offseason.
A Low-Risk, High-Reward Gamble
At just $2.5 million for one year, the Hendricks signing is a textbook low-risk, high-reward move for the Angels. If he struggles, they can simply move on after the season with minimal financial impact. But if he recaptures even a semblance of his prime form, the Angels will have secured a frontline starter at a bargain price.
For Hendricks, this is an opportunity to prove he still has plenty left in the tank after a rough final season in Chicago. With a return to his Southern California roots and a chance to mentor the next generation of Angels pitchers, he’ll be motivated to show that 2024 was an aberration rather than the start of a decline.
Only time will tell if this reunion of a hometown kid and his childhood team will yield dividends on the field. But for the Angels, rolling the dice on a proven winner like Kyle Hendricks is a gamble well worth taking as they aim to vault back into playoff contention in 2025.
