Kyle Hendricks, Jorge Lopez among Chicago Cubs players electing free agency

Lost in the news that Cody Bellinger exercised his $27.5MM player option for the 2025 season were two members of the Chicago Cubs pitching who elected free agency on Friday night.

On Friday night, the Cubs' official website confirmed the procedural moves of starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks and relief pitcher Jorge López electing free agency.

Last offseason, the Cubs picked Hendricks' $16MM club option for the 2024 season. While it's easy to be critical of that decision now, after the 2023 Hendricks had, it was an easy one to make at the time.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, the 2024 season saw that Hendricks, at this point in his career, may struggle to find his footing while pitching from the starting pitcher. Hendricks' 5.92 ERA was the highest mark of his career for a season that saw him demoted from the starting rotation after the opening month. Injuries to Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown forced Hendricks back into the rotation but even then, the Cubs were careful with how and when they pitched him.

Hendricks has previously stated a desire to pitch in 2025 but it may not be with the Cubs. The Cubs are in the market for starting pitching this offseason but their aim is likely for someone who can sit at the top of the rotation with Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga.

Jorge López could be part of the answer for the Cubs' bullpen in 2025.

The Cubs likely will have an interest in bringing back López for the 2025 season. After a tenuous start to the season with the New York Mets, López regained his All-Star form with the Cubs after inking a minor league deal with the team. In 24 appearances with the Cubs last season, López posted a 2.03 ERA.

There likely will be more procedural moves for the Cubs on Monday, as the team will need to clear space for players returning to the 40-man roster from the 60-day IL list.