2C ❚ TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2021 ❚ USA TODAY E2 SPORTS ChiSox closed the deal for Hendriks
Bob Nightengale “I was not going to eliminate any USA TODAY teams on the surface,” Hannaford said. “My job as an agent is that Liam was ap- SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Closer Liam proaching this with an open mind. I told Hendriks and his wife, Kristi, are back in them that he will give everybody inter- their familiar rental home for spring ested an opportunity to sell themselves training. But when he sets foot in the on him and his wife. Where this ends up, Chicago White Sox’s camp Wednesday I don’t know. for the first day of workouts, he will be “But when a team like the White Sox surrounded by the kind of hype that he continued to be engaged, Tony reaching has never felt in his career. out, players reaching out, he was feeling The pitcher the White Sox hated and the love. We said if this is real, let’s take cursed for 72 hours last October is the it to a level where we can get it done.” same man who could lead them to a place they haven’t gone since 2005. ‘How can we bridge the gap here?’ “That’s the plan,” Hendriks told USA TODAY Sports. “That’s why I signed There was a lull in conversations with the White Sox. I want that World with everyone during the holidays, but Series ring. I know we can make it hap- teams circled back in January and in- pen.” creased their offers. The White Sox pro- It was Hendriks who extinguished posed a three-year deal for just more the White Sox’s hopes last season. If not than $40 million. Hendriks and Hanna- for Hendriks, Chicago likely wins the ford, believing they could get a four-year American League wild-card round of Liam Hendriks, who posted a 1.79 ERA over the past two seasons with Oakland, deal, or at least $48 million over three the playoffs and, who knows, maybe signed an unusual contract with the White Sox. ROBERT HANASHIRO/USA TODAY SPORTS years, held their ground. makes a run deep into October. Still, while Hannaford was engaged They watched Hendriks pitch in ev- with teams on potential four-year deals, ery game for the Oakland Athletics, the A’s full-time closer during the 2019 Katz on their call. the White Sox were adamant they throwing 105 pitches in 72 hours and season, with a 0.897 WHIP the past two “We put on the full-court press,” would not go past three years. They 2 striking out 12 batters in 5 ⁄3 innings, years. Hahn said. “We were all impressed by reached a stalemate, and the White Sox and sent the White Sox home for the The outpouring of interest was hum- Liam and Kristi. Their answers were ex- feared the Astros and Blue Jays would winter. bling, but Hendriks and his agency tremely thoughtful. They were very up provide four-year deals. “Unfortunately, we got an up-and- knew they had to weed out teams to to speed with our on-field and off-the- “There was no way I was going to close look at how dominant he could gauge their real interest. So they decid- field endeavors and the city of Chicago. commit to a regular four-year contract,” be,” White Sox general manager Rick ed to set up Zoom calls with COVID-19 They absolutely became prepared and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf Hahn said. “It’s easy to say we wanted preventing personal visits. If teams left a really positive impression on the said, “so I was thinking, ‘How can we him after watching what he did against really weren’t serious, they realized call. When we all got off that call we bridge the gap here?’ ” us, but the truth is that he’s been on our they’d have no interest in setting up were very fired up trying to make it Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago radar for over a year, leading up to the hour-long calls with their front office work.” Bulls, decided to try an NBA tactic, one 2020 season. I’m sure I bothered (Oak- and coaching staff. Hendriks was captivated and he talked about for years with Williams land GM) David Forst a little too much Hendriks and his wife decided they charmed, particularly by La Russa. They and Hahn. He would offer a three-year trying to trade for him going back prior wanted to be on calls together. They knew each other from ARF, the Animal deal for $39 million, with a club option to the season.” would listen to teams talk about their Rescue Foundation founded by La Rus- for $15 million. The twist? The buyout, The A’s never traded him. But one dedication toward building a World Se- sa and his wife, Elaine, in which Liam after several tweaks, would be the exact week into free agency, the White Sox ries contender, their philosophy on bull- and Kristi donated their time and mon- same as the salary. So Hendriks would and Matt Hannaford, Hendriks’ agent, pen usage, and how the couple could ey. be paid $54 million whether he pitches began a two-month courtship, tying the make an impact in the community with “Tony would come down to our club- three years or four years. knot in one of the most unique contracts charitable endeavors. house in Oakland and we would talk,” “Hannaford not only grasped what you might ever see. Hendriks said. “I loved his mindset on we wanted to do,” Hahn said, “but came The length of Hendriks’ deal is open ‘Full-court press’ the way he manages. He knows how to up with the structure to make sure it to interpretation – three or four years – run a bullpen. I mean, he was the one complied with the CBA.” but either way it guarantees $54 million. The calls began the week of Nov. 30 who established that closer’s role with If the White Sox do not pick up the There’s even a prenup, if you will, that with the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dennis Eckersley. I appreciated his old- option, the $15 million buyout would be would include deferred payments Dodgers and Houston Astros. school vibe. If a guy is pitching well, let spread out over 10 years, paying him through 2033 if things go sour. It’s al- The second week was the White Sox. him pitch. I told him I always want that $1.5 million a year without interest, most like a mini-version of the infamous The calls lasted 60 to 75 minutes with ball.” valuing the contract at $51.166 million. Bobby Bonilla contract, who last played the team’s GM, manager, pitching coach The White Sox didn’t bother camou- “While I knew we weren’t really going 20 years ago but still is paid $1.193 mil- and at least one analytic staff member flaging their interest, and all of their to save any money,” Reinsdorf said, “the lion every July 1 by the New York Mets on every call. Some even had employees moves were designed with Hendriks in reason I proposed 10 years is that it through the age of 72. from their community relations depart- mind. They traded for Lance Lynn of the would give us some cash flow relief. The “This is like my career path,” Hen- ment. Hendriks and his wife took metic- Texas Rangers on Dec. 8 instead of ven- player would get the same money he driks said, “a winding road, a unique ulous notes. turing into the pitching free agent mar- was going to get, but if we had to let him and interesting way of doing things. It “We set up the Zoom calls because we ketplace. They wanted to save money on go, I didn’t want to have a $15 million was interesting. But when it’s all said wanted to get a feel of the organization, an outfielder and two days later official- payment for the year if we had to replace and done, they wanted me from the be- grasp their organizational direction, see ly signed Adam Eaton for $8 million. him. It just made it easier to absorb the ginning, and this is where I wanted to be how the pitching coach and my Meanwhile, the White Sox kept recruit- pain if we had to let him go. If we didn’t all along.” thoughts intertwined with one another,” ing Hendriks, with La Russa personally do that, I don’t think we would have got- Hendriks, his agents Hannaford and Hendriks said. “I didn’t want to go to a calling several times. So did pitcher Lu- ten him.” partner Tim Clarke, and the White Sox place that had a cookie-cutter mode on cas Giolito and other White Sox players. A day later, on Jan. 11, the deal was provided USA TODAY Sports a behind- how to use guys. I wanted to see the “The thing that was most impressive finalized. Hendriks would receive a the-scenes look into their negotiations. back-and-forth, and see what works for is that he and his wife had done a lot of $1 million signing bonus, $11 million this It was only hours after the official both sides, and make sure I fit in the or- research about the team,” La Russa said. year, $13 million in 2022, $14 million in start of free agency Oct. 28 that the tele- ganization. “The only question is he wondered how 2023 and a $15 million club option with a phone calls started pouring in. By the “I needed my wife to be on board, too. the bullpen would be handled. I told him $15 million buyout. end of the first week, 11 teams contacted We do everything as a partnership. I’m we make decisions based on both obser- The fascinating aspect of the deal’s Hannaford expressing interest. Two going to have to transport her entire life vation and analytics. You got to watch structure is that Hendriks could poten- other teams later followed. to a new city. I wanted her to go some- and see what you see, right. If you have a tially earn more money if he struggles in Clarke researched and narrated a 15- where she would be the happiest.” good legitimate closer, you set the plan 2023 and the White Sox decide not to minute video that was sent to those The White Sox, realizing the first im- for the bullpen that day to get him the pick up his option. The White Sox would teams, illustrating that Hendriks was pression would be the most lasting, had ball in the ninth.” still owe him the $15 million and he the most dominant reliever in baseball White Sox executive vice president Ken And there was the money. could re-enter the free agent market. the past two years. It revealed the stark Williams, Hahn, manager Tony La Rus- Hendriks had offers from five teams “I had a lot of fun in the free agent differences with the White Sox bullpen sa, assistant general manager Jeremy by Dec. 10. The White Sox started with process,” Hendriks said. “Now, here I am with and without him. This is a pitcher Haber, assistant GM/player develop- an initial proposal of two years and wearing that black slimming uniform. who had struck out 14.7 batters per nine ment Chris Getz (his teammate in 2014 an option guaranteeing just less than Hopefully, I’ll soon be wearing a World innings with a 1.98 ERA since becoming with Toronto) and pitching coach Ethan $20 million. Series ring too.”
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