The Boston Red Sox signed veteran reliever Liam Hendriks during the offseason with the knowledge that he would be sidelined for a significant portion of the year. Hendriks, who joined the team after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 while with the Chicago White Sox, began his rehab assignment in August. Despite making six appearances between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, where he pitched a total of five innings and recorded modest stats, Hendriks encountered a setback during his recovery.
According to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, the 35-year-old Hendriks has undergone an MRI on his elbow, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora has indicated that it’s increasingly likely the team will shut him down for the remainder of the season. With just 16 games left, it appears that Hendriks’ return this year is highly improbable.
Hendriks, a three-time All-Star, still has a full year remaining on his contract with Boston, plus a mutual option for the 2026 season. His recent struggles, including his battle with cancer and the UCL injury leading to Tommy John surgery, have limited his appearances to just five games since the end of the 2022 season. Given these challenges, it remains uncertain whether Hendriks will be able to return to his previous form by 2025, which could exacerbate the Red Sox’s bullpen issues moving forward.
As the Red Sox look ahead, they face significant questions regarding their bullpen for next year. The uncertainty surrounding Hendriks’ recovery only adds to the concerns about how the team will address their pitching needs in the upcoming season.
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