5 Chicago Cubs that will be part of the next core

5 Chicago Cubs that Will be Part of the Next Core – #2: Kyle Hendricks

Obviously, this list wouldn’t be complete without Kyle Hendricks. ‘The Professor’ has been part of the core for six seasons now. Looking at his statistics over the years, Hendricks’ best year came in 2016, the year the Cubs won it all.

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He posted a remarkable big league-leading 2.13 ERA with a 16-8 record while finishing third in Cy Young Award voting. Most remember his lights-out performance in Game 6 of the NLCS, sending the club to its first World Series since 1945. Hendricks’ consistency has endured over the years.

Over eight seasons of work, Hendricks has a career 3.24 ERA and a stellar record of 82-53. His current record of 13-5 in 2021 in among the best in terms of wins as he is currently leading the league in that department. Considering he is not a free agent until 2024, his two extra years of team control could have potentially returned a haul at the trade deadline. Thankfully, the organization stuck with the right-hander. Hendricks’ consistency is valuable to any team looking to build a solid rotation.