(670 The Score) The Cubs and right-hander Kyle Hendricks have agreed to a contract extension through 2023, with an option for 2024.
The team announced the news Tuesday afternoon at spring training in Mesa, Ariz. Hendricks had previously been under club control through 2020.
Hendricks will receive his previously negotiated salary of $7.405 million in 2019, then his four-year, $55.5-million will kick in. Hendricks will make $12 million in 2020, then $14 million in each of the next three seasons, according to multiple reports.
The 2024 option on Hendricks' contract is for $16 million and will automatically vest if he finishes in the top three of the National League Cy Young voting in 2020, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN. If Hendricks doesn't, the Cubs will hold a $16-million club option with a $1.5-million buyout for 2024.
Hendricks, 29, has been a rock in the Cubs rotation since his debut in 2014, with a career 3.07 ERA in five seasons. That represents the fifth-lowest ERA of any active pitcher with at least 100 career starts. Hendricks was the NL Cy Young runner-up in 2016, when he led the big leagues with a 2.13 ERA.
Hendricks has made 30 or more starts in three of the past four years. He was 14-11 with a 3.44 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 2018.
Just days ago, Hendricks expressed his desire to stay in Chicago for the long term.
"Yes, of course," Hendricks said of wanting to remain with the Cubs. "Everything we provided here, it has to be the best in baseball. To have these fans and the city of Chicago and everything that comes along with it -- I have been treated as nothing but the best, 100 percent I think for most of the guys in the clubhouse we would like to stay."
Hendricks has proved to be a big-game performer for the Cubs. He has a career 2.98 ERA in 11 playoff appearances, which included throwing a gem in Game 6 to clinch the National League Championship Series in 2016 and a strong effort in Game 7 of the World Series that year as well.
