One-year pact: Angels bring in pitching reinforcement

A week after the World Series wrapped up, the baseball hot stove is heating up. The Los Angeles Angels continue their active offseason, zeroing in on a key addition to their starting rotation. Sources told 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine that that the Angels are in an agreement on a one-year, $2.5 million deal with right-hander Kyle Hendricks, pending official confirmation from the club. Hendricks, 34, would be the latest addition for the Angels, joining outfielder Jorge Soler, infielder Scott Kingery and first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda.

Entering 2025, Hendricks has spent his entire 11-year career with the Chicago Cubs, helping them win the 2016 World Series. The signing represents a homecoming for Hendricks, who attended Capistrano Valley High School in Mission Viejo, Calif.

Kyle Hendricks Signs One-Year Deal with Angels

Hendricks recognized that his release from the Cubs was inevitable at some point last season. However, the Cubs provided him a fitting farewell in the second-to-last game of the year, as the Wrigley Field crowd showered him with a heartfelt standing ovation. Acquired from the Texas Rangers in the 2012 Ryan Dempster trade, Hendricks blossomed into one of baseball’s most dependable starters. During the Cubs’ transformative years, he emerged as a stalwart, playing a pivotal role in the franchise’s historic 2016 postseason run, including starting Game 7 of the World Series. That season, Hendricks helped the Cubs secure their first National League pennant in 71 years. Hendricks boasts a respectable career line, featuring a 3.68 ERA across 276 appearances (270 starts). However, his 2024 campaign was marked by inconsistency, as he posted a 5.92 ERA with 87 strikeouts, 43 walks, and 21 home runs allowed in 130 2/3 innings. In contrast, Hendricks demonstrated better form in 2023, recording a 3.74 ERA with 93 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 13 home runs surrendered in 137 innings. After a storied run with the Cubs, Hendricks embarks on a new chapter with the Angels. As he departs the Windy City, Hendricks brings a wealth of experience, including his World Series starting credentials, to a Halos team looking to bolster its depth and consistency.