Cubs and Kyle Hendricks Discussing Contract Extension

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4 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

It has been reported by 670 The Score that the Cubs and starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks have discussed a contract extension.

The Cubs hold a $16 million team option on Hendricks for the 2024 season with a $1.5 million buyout. Hendricks had a nice bounceback season in 2023, posting a 3.74 ERA over 137 innings pitched. He will be entering his age 34 season in 2024 and struggled through much of 2021 and 2022.

It's hard to get a read on what a Hendricks extension might look like given his recent struggles. Is he willing to take less money and/or fewer years to stay with the Cubs or is he going to leverage his above-average 2023 season into a longer term deal?

 

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I would say that the whole purpose is to lower his pay, to help the CBT.  Pay him his 1.5 million opt out money, and then sign him for something like 2/20.  At least that what I expect.  I'd prefer they move on from him completely and take the staff in a different direction.  That extra money will come in handy to improve other black holes.

If the FO picks up Kyle option for a year or buys him out/re-signs him for something like 2/20 or Kyle rides off into the sunset, I wouldn’t hate any of the three options.
 

As stated above,,the money saved would come in handy if the team did move on. If Kyle comes back, his salary isn’t exactly astronomical. 

20 hours ago, JHBulls said:

If the FO picks up Kyle option for a year or buys him out/re-signs him for something like 2/20 or Kyle rides off into the sunset, I wouldn’t hate any of the three options.

Yeah, I don't think any of the options are bad. I think keeping Hendricks for at least one more season makes the most sense so would lean toward picking up the option or extending him for no more than two seasons.