It's official: Cubs exercise 2024 club options on Kyle Hendricks, Yan Gomes

Jeff Curry - USA Today Sports

by Cubs Media Relations - Sun Nov 05 20:10:58 GMT-05:00 2023

CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today exercised 2024 club options on right-handed pitcher Kyle Hendricks and catcher Yan Gomes.

Hendricks, 33, was 6-8 with a 3.74 ERA (57 ER/137.0 IP) in 24 starts for Chicago in 2023 after starting the season on the 15-day injured list while continuing his rehab from a capsular tear in his right shoulder suffered in July of 2022. He struck out 93 batters compared to 27 walks, including two or fewer free passes in 17 consecutive outings from June 29-September 21. Hendricks’ 3.74 ERA and 1.20 WHIP were his best marks in a full season since 2019 when he posted a 3.46 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.

Since making his major league debut with the Cubs in 2014, Hendricks is 93-69 with a 3.48 ERA (561 ER/1,449.2 IP) in 247 career games, all but one as a starter. He ranks seventh in franchise history with 1,172 career strikeouts while his 246 starts rank 10th and his 93 victories rank 17th. Hendricks was acquired from Texas at the 2012 trade deadline with infielder Christian Villanueva for right-handed pitcher Ryan Dempster.

Gomes, 36, played in 116 games for Chicago in 2023, making 92 starts behind the plate with the team going 50-42 in those contests. He batted .267 (102-for-382) with 20 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 63 RBI. He threw out 25 of 85 baserunners attempting to steal, and his 29.4-percent caught stealing rate was second among N.L. catchers with at least 50 stolen base attempts. Gomes’ 63 RBI were the second-most of his career, surpassed by his 74 in 2014 with Cleveland.

Gomes signed a two-year contract with the Cubs prior to the 2022 season and in all or parts of 12 major league seasons with Toronto (2012), Cleveland (2013-18), Washington (2019-21), Oakland (2021) and the Cubs has hit .248 (909-for-3,665) with 190 doubles, 10 triples, 135 home runs and 510 RBI in 1,084 career games. He earned an A.L. Silver Slugger Award in 2014 and was named to the A.L. All-Star Team in 2018.