Source: Cubs fire Jim Hendry

[Sharkweather]

The Chicago Cubs relieved Jim Hendry of his duties as vice president and general manager on Friday, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Hendry was hired in 1996 as director of player development. He was promoted to scouting director the next season. The 55-year-old Florida native was promoted to general manager in 2002 after serving as assistant to then-president Andy MacPhail.

Under Hendry, the Cubs hired two high-profile managers in Dusty Baker in the fall of 2002 and Lou Piniella in the fall of 2006.

The Cubs won divisions in 2003, '07 and '08. The 2003 team came within five outs of going to the team's first World Series since 1945.

The back-to-back playoff berths were the first for the franchise since 1907-08.

Rumors surfaced earlier in the season that Ricketts had conversations with former Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes.

Rumors of discussion with former Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays general manager Pat Gillick surfaced a month ago but were shot down by people close to Ricketts.

Hendry and most of his front office have one year remaining on their contracts.

He signed a four-year, $5 million extension before the 2008 season.

 

[EmpireWF]

About time.

 

[FedEx227]

So you let him do your draft and control an important trade deadline.... then you fire him.

...The Cubs.

 

[Goober]

Dammit. Stop making smart decisions Chicago!

 

[FedEx227]

It's smart in a sense but dumb that he stayed 2 years beyond what he should have.

 

[Yawkey Way]

Should be a fun situation for the next guy to step into. You have the Carlos Zambrano saga not to mention owing him 18 million next season. Alfonso Soriano is 18 million a year until 2014 with a full NTC. Dempster is in town for next year as well and he'll rack up a lofty 14 million.

With the Cubs farm system the way it is, the next GM(josh byrnes?) is walking into a cesspool.

 

[FirstTimer]

Should be a fun situation for the next guy to step into. You have the Carlos Zambrano saga not to mention owing him 18 million next season. Alfonso Soriano is 18 million a year until 2014 with a full NTC. Dempster is in town for next year as well and he'll rack up a lofty 14 million.

With the Cubs farm system the way it is, the next GM(josh byrnes?) is walking into a cesspool.

The Cubs farm system is actually in really good shape position player wise IMO. They are really deep in the OF and middle IF. They are a bit pitching thin.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

The Cubs farm system is actually in really good shape position player wise IMO. They are really deep in the OF and middle IF. They are a bit pitching thin.

At least Hendry learned one thing from MacPhail, to keep a good farm system.

Its not THAT bad of a situation if the right GM comes in. They do have bad contracts but there is a solid roster there, and as you mentioned, good prospects. They can deal some of the excess for other younger players (like pitchers) and even out their depth chart that way.

I would expect a busy off-season from the Cubs. Hopefully they go about building the right way.

 

[FedEx227]

Eeehhh... Hendry had that farm looking VERY bleek there for awhile. The Cubs farm system director has done a great job of rebuilding it. It'd be significantly better without the retarded Garza deal.

 

[Villain]

Take Logan White and/or Ned Colletti please.

 

[FirstTimer]

Eeehhh... Hendry had that farm looking VERY bleek there for awhile. The Cubs farm system director has done a great job of rebuilding it. It'd be significantly better without the retarded Garza deal.

I still really don't mind the Garza deal.

Guyer is a AAAA player.

Archer hasn't done much this year.

Chrinos has been a career minor leaguer.

Hak Ju Lee was the only guy I really thought would be anything.

 

[EmpireWF]

Whats the likelihood they can lure Pujols away with a monster deal?

 

[FedEx227]

I still really don't mind the Garaza deal.

Guyer is a AAAA player.

Archer hasn't done much this year.

Chrinos has been a career minor leaguer.

Hak Ju Lee was the only guy I really thought would be anything.

What's the end game though?

It's win-now move for a team that shouldn't be in that mode.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Whats the likelihood they can lure Pujols away with a monster deal?

That would be a mistake.

Pujols will decline sharply during his next deal. That's fine if he does so while on the Cards, because in baseball you can grow old gracefully on your own team and the fans give you a pass. But if he signs for 8 years with the Cubs or somebody else, and is a shell of himself by year 3 or 4, it will be a disaster.

Pujols is a fool if he leaves STL, and anyone who signs him deserves what they get.

 

[FirstTimer]

What's the end game though?

It's win-now move for a team that shouldn't be in that mode.

I think the Cubs feel they are closer to a World Series than they actually are. It's not "win now" so much but they feel Garza can be a front line #1 or #2 starter for the next 3-5 years then decline after that for a few seasons with some value. IMO the Cubs must feel that in the next 3-5 years they will be back to being contenders and Garza is a big part of that where as Guyer and Chirinos wouldn't be so they weren't really an issue Archer and Lee were the guys of value they gave up for Garza and Lee is so far away right now who the hell knows what will happen....plus the Cubs are deep middle IF wise on the farm.

Is the thinking right? I don't know and we might not know for years.

I can at least see where they are coming from but can understand the criticism of the deal.

 

[FirstTimer]

Whats the likelihood they can lure Pujols away with a monster deal?

They'd be smart to throw the money at Fielder.