Chicago Cubs World Series Veteran Placed on IL Again

The Chicago Cubs world series veteran has been placed on injured list again for the third straight season.

Apr 10, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks (28) throws a pitch / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

The pitching injury bug affecting Major League Baseball hits again, this time getting Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks.

Hendricks, a World Series veteran, has once again been placed on the injured list because of shoulder inflammation in his throwing shoulder according to Aldo Soto. This is his third shoulder injury in as many years and his fourth overall.

Hendricks joins Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon as key Cubs pitchers on the injured list. The two top arms on the staff are now rookies Shota Imanaga and Jordan Wicks.

The veteran did not get off to a great start in 2024, with a 11.74 ERA through two games on 17 hits in 7 2/3 innings pitched. He was solid last season with a 3.74 ERA in 24 starts.

Luckily for Chicago, their rookie arms have stepped up this season and have been the best on the team so far.

Imanaga has yet to give up a run on the season through two starts. Wicks has had some more issues, but he does look promising.

There are some veteran arms on the free agent market if the Cubs want to bring someone in to fill a void for a couple of weeks.

Rich Hill, Johnny Cueto, Vince Velasquez, Matthew Boyd, and even Trevor Bauer, are some of the best top starting arms that are able to be signed right now.

Cueto, 38, is aging and coming off of not the best season in 2023. He had a good year in 2022, so there might still be some gas left in the tank if they want to take a risk.

Bauer might be the best arm on the list, but it might not be worth it for just a couple of weeks of pitching given the blowback they would receive for going after one of the more controversial names in the sport.