The Chicago Cubs have agreed to a minor league contract with veteran reliever Liam Hendriks, a source confirmed to ESPN, giving the 37-year-old right-hander another chance to work his way back to the majors.
Hendriks was released from a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins on March 20. During spring training with Minnesota he allowed three runs on nine hits and five walks over seven innings across seven appearances, the report says.
The NL Central-leading Cubs have been hit hard by injuries, according to the report, including to their bullpen. Relievers Caleb Thielbar (left hamstring strain), Hunter Harvey (triceps inflammation) and Riley Martin (elbow inflammation) are on the injured list, creating openings the club may look to fill from its minor league options.
Hendriks enters the agreement with a long major league résumé, the report notes: he has 116 career saves in a 14-year career, 114 of which came from 2019-22 while pitching in two seasons with the Athletics and two with the Chicago White Sox. He set a career high with 38 saves for the White Sox in 2021, per the report.
Health issues have interrupted Hendriks’ recent seasons. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after the 2022 season, and in 2023 he was sidelined after five appearances by right elbow inflammation and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery. With Boston, he had a 6.59 ERA in 14 games in 2025 before a season shortened by right hip inflammation, the report says. Hendriks’ agreement with the Cubs was first reported by The Athletic. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
