JUST IN: Cubs Manager: “Not Going to Work” After $16 Million Veteran
The Chicago Cubs are thrilled with rookie pitcher Shota Imanaga’s impressive debut, as he currently leads the majors with a 0.84 ERA. In contrast, their longest-serving starter, Kyle Hendricks, who is in his eleventh season with the team, has struggled significantly. Hendricks has posted a 10.57 ERA over seven starts, including a recent tough game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cubs manager Craig Counsell has expressed frustration with Hendricks’ performance. “We certainly need better,” Counsell told Patrick Mooney of The Athletic after Hendricks’ latest outing. “That’s not going to work. And that’s not going to be good enough.”
The Chicago Cubs Might Move on From Kyle Hendricks
Throughout his MLB career, Kyle Hendricks has maintained a solid 3.63 ERA, amassing 1,197 strikeouts over more than 250 starts. He is the last remaining player from the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship team, a season in which he led the majors with a 2.13 ERA and secured 16 wins.
Currently earning $16.5 million on a club option from a four-year, $55.5 million extension signed in 2019, Hendricks might have already lost his rotation spot if the Cubs had more options. Cubs manager Craig Counsell, frustrated with Hendricks’ performance, said, “We got to look at the start a little closer and see what’s going on. We’re in a tough stretch right now. We’ve got eight pitchers on the injured list. We’ve got to keep doing our best to help Kyle turn the corner. I think that’s going to be really important here. In the stretch we’re in, we’re going to need innings” .
National Cubs reporter Taylor McGregor noted that the team has yet to decide who will start after Javier Assad and Justin Steele, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Hendricks’ immediate future. Hendricks had just returned from the injured list before his recent start, and his struggles, coupled with a lack of high-velocity pitches, make it difficult to envision him as an effective bullpen member.
The team’s need for innings might ultimately lead to the end of Hendricks’ tenure with the Cubs. Jake Misener from Cubbies Crib observed, “This has all the makings of an abrupt end to Hendricks’ Cubs career, similar to what we saw with Jake Arrieta a few years ago. Chicago has given him as long a leash as possible, but with no major improvements seen, it’s hard to envision him playing a role on this team deep into the summer” .
Kyle Hendricks Is Staying Positive Amid Struggles for the Chicago Cubs
Kyle Hendricks remains optimistic about his ability to contribute effectively to the Cubs if given the chance. “My starts in the beginning, the stuff was up,” Hendricks explained after his last start, according to Mooney. “The focus wasn’t quite there. But these last two, I’ve felt more like myself, down in the zone executing.”
Peter Chawaga, who covers Major League Baseball for Heavy.com, has more than 10 years of newsroom experience. His work has appeared in various newspapers, magazines, and websites nationwide. His baseball reporting has been featured in Yardbarker, Last Word On Sports, and more.