Injuries & Moves: Hendricks, López become free agents

Injuries & Moves: Hendricks, López become free agents

October 21st, 2024

This roster moves and injury updates page will be updated throughout the offseason as news happens.

LATEST NEWS

Oct. 31: RHP and RHP elect free agency
While Hendricks -- the last remaining piece of the 2016 World Series team -- is revered for his leadership and work ethic, the ‘24 season was likely the end of the line for his stellar 11-year tenure with the Cubs. Hendricks wants to keep playing in ‘25, but even the pitcher said at season’s end that his next pitch would likely be with a new team.

López, 31, was a midseason pick-up for the Cubs after a rough departure from the Mets, playing a key role in turning Chicago’s bullpen around down the stretch (2.03 ERA in 24 games).

• All Cubs transactions

INJURY UPDATES

2B (right flexor tendon)
Expected return: 2025
The Cubs announced that Hoerner underwent successful flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm (performed by Dr. Keith Meister) on Oct. 11. The second baseman will focus on his rehab over the offseason and be assessed at the start of Spring Training in February to determine his next steps. In 151 games in '24, the 27-year-old Hoerner hit .273/.335/.373 with seven homers, 35 doubles, 48 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. He is signed through 2026 and set to earn $11.5 million in '25. (Last updated: Oct. 21)

LHP (right oblique strain)
Expected return: 2025
Wicks was placed on the 15-day IL on Sept. 20 due to a right oblique strain, which impacted a different area than a similar setback earlier in the season. The left-hander landed on the 15-day IL with a right oblique strain on June 15 and was activated on Sept. 1. Wicks also dealt with a left forearm strain early in the season. In 11 games (10 starts) overall for the Cubs this year, Wicks posted a 5.48 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 20 walks in 46 innings. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (right knee tendinitis)
Expected return: 2025
Merryweather underwent a patellar tendon debridement on his right knee on Sept. 20. Prior to the procedure, the righty made two rehab appearances with Triple-A Iowa. When the knee issue persisted, Merryweather and the Cubs opted for the surgery. The Cubs "anticipate him being ready for Spring Training," per manager Craig Counsell.

Merryweather, who missed time earlier this season due to a rib stress fracture, allowed 11 runs over 15 innings in the Majors this year after breaking out with a 3.38 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 72 innings last season. He was placed on the IL on Aug. 27 (retroactive to Aug. 26). (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (fractured left hand)
Expected return: 2025
Brewer logged a 2.84 ERA in seven outings for Triple-A Iowa over the final month of the season on a rehab assignment. The 31-year-old reliever punched a wall in the Cubs’ dugout after his outing against the Angels on July 6 and sustained a fractured left hand, resulting in his trip to the 60-day IL. Brewer had a 5.66 ERA in 20 2/3 innings this season, striking out 22 and walking nine. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

OF (left ankle fracture)
Expected return: 2025
Davis slid awkwardly into second base and sustained a fractured left ankle during a game with Triple-A Iowa on Sept. 10. In need of a 40-man spot, the Cubs recalled Davis on Sept. 13 and immediately placed him on the 60-day IL. The 24-year-old, who is the Cubs' No. 26 prospect, was limited to 55 games this season (.820 OPS) between High-A South Bend and Triple-A Iowa due to injury setbacks.

Davis has been impacted by multiple injuries in the years since the breakout 2021 campaign that landed him on MLB Pipeline's Top 100 list. The outfielder missed two-plus months this season due to a back fracture, had core muscle surgery in '23, underwent back surgery in '22 and has dealt with two concussions since '21. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

2B (left pinky fracture)
Expected return: 2025
Madrigal was recalled from Triple-A and placed on the 60-day injured list on Sept. 1. He sustained a left pinky fracture after he was hit by a pitch in his first game back with Iowa on June 5. He had been on the Minor League IL since June 6. Madrigal slashed .221/.280/.256 in 51 games for the Cubs before being optioned to Triple-A on June 2. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (neck strain)
Expected return: 2025
Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted on June 19 that testing on the pitcher's neck revealed a "benign area of concern." Brown, who posted a 3.58 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings for the Cubs this season, was placed on the IL on June 11 and spent the final three-plus months rehabbing in Arizona. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (right flexor strain)
Expected return: TBD
Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 7 and is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2025 season. The right-hander's timetable for return has not yet been fully established. Alzolay's last rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa was on July 27, but he did not recover well after a season hindered by injury.

Expected to be the Cubs' closer in 2024, Alzolay was limited to 18 games and logged a 4.67 ERA. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

LHP (left shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
By late July, it was known that Little's 2024 season was over due to his left shoulder/lat injury. The lefty landed on the 15-day IL on July 13 -- one day after exiting his outing against the Cardinals after just four pitches. He was moved to the 60-day IL on July 22.

Little posted a 3.46 ERA in 30 games overall this season, but had a 1.59 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings and a .127 opponents’ average in 20 appearances prior to the IL stint. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: 2025
Almonte underwent a successful labral repair surgery in July. The righty attempted to come back from the injury for two months after landing on the IL on May 11 before opting for the surgery. Almonte posted a 3.45 ERA over 17 appearances for Chicago, which acquired him in a trade with the Dodgers in January. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

RHP (right lat strain; No. 2 on Cubs' Top Prospects list, No. 28 overall)
Expected return: 2025
Horton’s 2024 season ended in August after he suffered a setback in his rehab from the right subscapularis strain that sidelined him in May. Cubs GM Carter Hawkins said on Aug. 13 that, "at this point of the year and this point of his career, it's not something that we wanted to push. We feel confident that he'll be ready to rock and roll come Spring Training, and certainly he’ll be part of our plans for next year."

Horton, who was Chicago’s first-round pick (No. 7 overall) in the 2022 MLB Draft, exited his May 29 start for Triple-A Iowa after logging 20 pitches in one inning (two runs allowed) against Louisville. The righty posted a 7.50 ERA with 22 strikeouts and 11 walks in 18 innings (five starts) for Iowa, following a four-start stint (1.10 ERA with 18 strikeouts and two walks in 16 1/3 innings) with Double-A Tennessee to begin the season. (Last updated: Sept. 29)

• More injury news