Liam Hendriks is the new owner of the biggest free-agent contract of MLB’s offseason.
And the White Sox have a new closer, after agreeing on Monday night to sign Hendriks to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth year and $54 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
Hendriks, 31, has been of the league’s best closers over the past two years. The right-hander posted a 1.79 ERA and 0.897 WHIP with 39 saves, 161 strikeouts and 24 walks over 110 1/3 innings for the Athletics since the beginning of 2019. He was an All-Star in 2019 and in 2020 was voted the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year.
The Mets were among the teams that had shown interest in Hendriks, The Post’s Mike Puma reported in December. Instead, the White Sox landed him on a deal that surpasses the four-year, $40.6 million contract the Mets gave catcher James McCann.
The White Sox’s deal with Hendriks is for three years and $39 million, with a $15 million option or buyout for the fourth year, according to multiple reports.
Hendriks, the Australian who has been designated for assignment four times and most recently in 2018, was the top reliever on the market. Brad Hand and Trevor Rosenthal are among the top relief arms still unsigned.
The White Sox have been among the most active teams this winter, trading for pitcher Lance Lynn, signing outfielder Adam Eaton and now landing Hendriks. He will replace Alex Colome, who saved 12 games for Chicago last season.
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