Could the White Sox trade Liam Hendriks?

In a season filled with uneven play and underperforming players, there has been no better story for the White Sox than Liam Hendriks’ triumphant return to the mound after beating Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hendriks’ return served as a rare highlight for the White Sox, who have languished below .500 while trying to turn things around on the South Side.

As we head into trade season, it’s hard not to wonder: Could the White Sox actually trade Hendriks to a contender? Would they?

“Nice stories are always appealing, but you’re paid to win games,” one American League executive said. “If he is performing at his accustomed level, he’s a very viable acquisition.”

Chicago entered play Sunday only 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Twins in the tepid AL Central, so it’s hardly a foregone conclusion that general manager Rick Hahn will be selling off pieces by the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline -- or if owner Jerry Reinsdorf will allow him to do so.

But with a number of impending free agents such as Lucas Giolito, Yasmani Grandal and Keynan Middleton, plus a myriad of others with 2024 options or expiring contracts next season including Lance Lynn, Tim Anderson, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, Mike Clevinger and Hendriks, Chicago has more than a half-dozen players on short-term commitments that can be moved if the postseason -- or the belief that the club is good enough to make a run in October -- looks like a longshot.

Hendriks is 34 years old and wants to pitch for a winning team. When he signed his three-year, $54 million deal with the White Sox prior to the 2021 season, Chicago was fresh off a postseason appearance, returning to the playoffs with an AL Central title that season.

But an 81-81 record in 2022 left the Sox on the outside looking in come October, and this year’s 29-37 record -- notwithstanding the club’s relatively small spread in the division -- has been a sign that Chicago isn’t ready to compete with the top teams in the AL.

Hendriks’ contract includes a $15 million option for 2024 that, if declined by Chicago, turns into a deferred guarantee of the same price, with the club paying Hendriks $1.5 million per year for the next 10 years. Should Hendriks be traded, that option becomes guaranteed for 2024, so any acquiring team would essentially be locking in the closer through the end of next season for a total of roughly $23 million.

That’s a reasonable deal for a closer who posted a 2.26 ERA and 114 saves between 2019-22, so as long as Hendriks pitches well over the next seven or eight weeks, contenders around the league figure to have interest in obtaining his services.

Would a Hendriks trade result in bad public relations for Chicago’s front office? Given what he and his story have meant to this team and its fans this season, would the Sox be risking a backlash if they shipped Hendriks out of town?

“In general, front offices do consider off-field impact and clubhouse vibes, but they’re typically secondary to the on field and financial value of the deal,” another AL executive said. “There’s a graceful way to trade him if that’s what they want to do.”

That graceful approach would likely involve keeping Hendriks -- who can veto trades to five undisclosed teams -- in the loop during trade talks. If the White Sox opt to move a number of players this summer, it would be an easy sell to Hendriks to send him to a contending team with which he can compete for a postseason spot.

“Keep him informed,” the second AL executive said. “They can ultimately explain to the fans that this is a move that benefits the organization with an influx of talent for the future and also Liam with a chance to play for a contender late in his career. It doesn’t need to be messy.”

We probably won’t know for several weeks whether the White Sox will be sellers, but if they do, Hendriks will be a fascinating name to watch.