The 2016 Chicago Cubs team was one of the best in team history. They had 21st-century Cubs legends like Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, David Ross, and Kris Bryant on the same roster together.
The team claimed the National League pennant and won the 2016 World Series in one of the most thrilling series of this generation. But that roster of players has slowly left the Cubs as a new era has begun. Out with Rizzo, Bryant, and Baez. In with Shota Imanaga, Isaac Paredes, and Cody Bellinger.
Now, the final member of that 2016 World Series team has officially left the Cubs.
MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Tuesday that free agent starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks had signed with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year deal worth roughly $3 million.
Hendricks, 34, made 24 starts with the Cubs last season where he held a 5.92 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP across 130.2 innings pitched.
The Angels have surprised everybody with their unwillingness to enter a full-scale rebuild in the aftermath of losing Shohei Ohtani. Instead of trading away their entire team last season, they opted to only sell their expiring contracts. Signing Hendricks doesn't move the needle, but it indicates Los Angeles is still trying to win.
For the Cubs, this move should be expected. Hendricks doesn't have the ability to be a key piece of a postseason rotation in the same way that he did in 2016. But losing the final piece of that World Series team has to feel like a piece of your heart is being ripped out if you're a Cubs fan.
Who knows? Maybe the Cubs sign Anthony Rizzo back this offseason and Cubs fans can hold onto the last bit of nostalgia for a little longer.
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