BOSTON — Veteran Liam Hendriks said he “of course” wants to be the closer for the Red Sox in 2025.
“But I also don’t want it to be given to me,” Hendriks said Thursday during a community event at the Boston Athletic Academy. “I am completely OK with the competition. I actually prefer the competition because I want to make sure I can test myself.”
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The closer competition should be an interesting storyline during spring training.
Hendriks, who missed 2024 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, is an obvious top candidate to replace free agent Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning. He has plenty of closer experience. The 35-year-old righty won two AL Rivera Reliever awards and earned three All-Star selections while recording 114 saves from 2019-22.
But the Red Sox also signed longtime closer Aroldis Chapman to a one-year, $10.75 million contract earlier this week. Chapman has recorded 335 career saves, including 14 saves last year for Pittsburgh. But he has worked mostly as a setup man the past three seasons. He has more holds (37) than saves (29) since the start of 2022.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow also recently said Justin Slaten is “capable of closing.”
Hendriks is excited that the Red Sox signed Chapman.
“I’ve been with Craig Kimbrel, Kenley Jansen and now Aroldis Chapman, the three preeminent closers of our generation,” Hendriks said. “So I’m just excited to be able to learn from him. And from all the reports I’ve heard, he’s a fantastic mentor to some of these young Latin guys. And I think that’s going to be fantastic for this group moving forward.”
Hendriks said he feels really strong physically.
“I threw a bullpen yesterday at BC,” he said. “It’s my second bullpen of the offseason. Everything is going well and we’re moving forward pretty well.”
Hendriks, meanwhile, is excited about free agent Juan Soto’s upcoming decision. The Red Sox are still in the running for Soto along with the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays and perhaps the Dodgers.
“I think any time in free agency you want that big domino to fall as early as possible for the rest of the class,” Hendriks said. “And sometimes with the holdups from those big guys, it makes it tough for some of the other guys. Look, at the end of the day Juan Soto is a generational-type player. And I think if any team has an opportunity to get him, you do it.”