Chicago Cubs to retain GM Jim Hendry

Posted: August 14, 2011

Jim Hendry has had a very up and down run as the General Manger of the Chicago Cubs. The sports writer conventional wisdom is that he is one of the main reasons of that team’s recent struggles and that he has handed out a lot of bad contracts. I have the same feelings about Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski, but since I am not emotionally invested in the goings on within the Cubs I think I can help Cubs fans look at this a bit more objectively. I will go ahead and say that in my 20 plus years of watching baseball Hendry has been the best Cubs GM, and we could argue he has been that team’s best GM ever.

I am not the only Hendry supporter out there, but certainly we are in the minority. Let’s take a look at some of the good. Like signing Ted Lilly, and after four productive years working a trade that landed the organization some very nice prospects. That is what good GM’s do. They trade away unsignable guys for prospects and hope prospects pan out. He got Derek Lee, Ryan Dempster, and Kosuke Fukidome all to sign on the dotted line.

Of course there is a lot of bad as well. There was that disastrous Dontrelle Willis trade, he did give Todd Hundley a ridiculous contract that made him impossible to trade, and he ended up with two over paid veterans on the downside of their careers when he finally traded him. However, the biggest stumble in Hendry’s Cubs career has been his inability to shore up the bullpen. It has been an issue in many of the most recent seasons, and a large black mark on his overall record.

In the end I think Cubs fans expected the new Cubs ownership to rid themselves of Hendry, and for the team to be rebuilt in a new way. Many baseball fans feel that way, and I certainly understand those feelings. However, that has to be measured against who the Cubs could hire to actually do the rebuilding. If that option is not better than what they already have then a move is not necessary.

By Joshua Lobdell

More Posts By Joshua Lobdell

Comments

8 Archived Responses to “ Chicago Cubs to retain GM Jim Hendry ”

Lucy Martinez
Aug 15, 2011

riggets ownership will hear the fans cry foul next year again when the cubs begins to loose as he did when he didn't hire Rhyno as manager, cubs baseball are like USA politics, the owners stink, manager stinks, general manager stinks, and most of the player stink, the good thing now is that the cubs got rid of 18 millions of Baby Huey ( Zambrano ) salary, I sure hope GM put that to good use, BUT I DOUBT IT, where is Steve Stone, I'm sure he would clean up the house quick as GM.
Brian Baugher
Aug 15, 2011

Steve stone would come in and clean house. No more deals over 4 years. That's why I love the Pena deal only 1 year Contract if we could only trade off soriano. Don't Evan think of puhos unless its to drive up the price tag on the cards. Oh rameriez here is 2 million for next year go be a DH somewhere you've become slow and still smack the ball well. However, we are going to get younger at 3rd base miss ya you're not worth 12 million. Sorry
Darrell Birkey
Aug 15, 2011

Like many fans I am frustrated by the huge contracts Hendry signed players to that are now handicapping the team, but unlike most fans, I fully realize that he was doing just what the Tribune Company wanted him to do. The Tribune Co. wanted win have a good team to win games and build attendance and TV ratings to get maximum price for the future franchise sale. they backloaded contracts, knowing the future owner would have to pay for them.
Since the Ricketts family have taken over, Hendry has functioned much differently, because that what his current boss wants. There have been no such bad deals since the new owners take over because he is in it for the long haul.
Today is the draft signing deadline. Because of the Ricketts priority to build a strong team for the long term, this draft may well be the most significant in Cubs history. Ricketts gave Hendry, Wilken and the scouts the green light to draft any players they really wanted and Ricketts would provide the money to get them signed. They have already also spent big bucks on young international problems.
Hendry has been the GM his employer wanted him to be. He reflected the wishes of the previous owner… now he's reflecting the wish of the current owner.
As for Steve Stone, he will never be a GM for any team. He is a legend in his own mind. Even Steve Stone would be limited by what the owner wants to do.
Darrell Birkey
Aug 15, 2011

The examples of Dontrelle Willis and Todd Hundley are not really good ones. Willis had three good years and has been a waste ever since. The untradable Hundley was traded exactly 2 years after he was signed… for Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros, who helped the Cubs win win the division in 2003.
John Puentes
Aug 15, 2011

Sorry, when I hear the name Jim Hendry, I can only think of one thing: Milton Bradley. Anyone that would sign that bad apple is not a good GM.
Ken Roucka
Aug 15, 2011

"…he did give Todd Hundley a ridiculous contract that made him impossible to trade, and he ended up with two over paid veterans on the downside of their careers when he finally traded him." Hendry wasn't the GM when Hundley was signed, Andy McPhail was. Hendry got Karros & Grudzielanek for him Grudz went on to hit.312 combined in two years with the Cubs and Karros was an valuable piece for the 2003 division champs. This shows how bad this writer screwed up this article. He took Hendry's best move (the Hundley trade) and made it sound like it was one of his worst. Yet he's advocating for Hendry.
Paul R. Heyden Sr.
Aug 15, 2011

You're right, you're not being objective. Hendry has mad a couple of good trades and a couple of good free agent signings – however, the disasters he's stuck the team with far outweigh whatever good he's done. I personally like Jim Hendry, a real good person – but, that doesn't remove the 4 young pitchers (all in the majors) for a Juan Pierre 1 year rental. 2 guys begging to come to the Cubs, Abreau and Dunn for the same price a Braley, he signs Bradley. Beinfest in Florida has fleeced him numerous times and every time I see a minor league deal – it scares me what he might be giving away. He DID draft Jos Hamilton – for Cincy and immediately trade his rights. No sir, time to move on. If Ricketts can't see this or understand the need for a clean start (Pat Giilick – replacing Crane Kennedy for a start), then, he's going to lose a lot at the gate. Same ol same ol ain't's going to get it anymore.