BOSTON – Veteran Liam Hendricks he said that “of course” he wants to be closer to the Red Sox in 2025.
“But I don’t want to be given that either,” Hendriks said Thursday during a community event at the Boston Athletic Academy. “I’m all for the competition. I actually prefer the competition because I want to make sure I can prove myself.”
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The tightest competition should be an interesting story during spring training.
Hendriks, who missed 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is an obvious candidate to replace free agent Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. He has a lot of closer experience. The 35-year-old right-hander won two AL Rivera Reliever Awards and earned three All-Star selections while recording 114 saves from 2019-22.
But the Red Sox also signed a longtime closer Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.75 million contract earlier this week. Chapman has recorded 335 career saves, including 14 last year for Pittsburgh. But he has worked primarily as a set-up man the past three seasons. He has more catches (37) than saves (29) since the start of 2022.
Baseball boss Craig Breslow also said recently that Justin Slaten is “closer capable.”
Hendriks is excited that the Red Sox signed Chapman.
“I’ve been with Craig Kimbrel, Kenley Jansen and now Aroldis Chapman, the three preeminent closers of our generation,” Hendriks said. “So I’m excited to be able to learn from him. And from all the reports I’ve heard, he’s a great mentor for some of these young Latinos. And I think he’s going to be great for that group moving forward.”
Hendriks said he feels very strong physically.
“I threw a bullpen yesterday at BC,” he said. “It’s my second bullpen of the offseason. Everything is going well and we’re making pretty good progress.”