Jim Hendry Deserves Another Chance

Aaron Gingold — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 06:58:44 -0400

Sometimes you need to shake up a roster. Six consecutive playoff losses in two years might warrant such a move.

However, when you tinker with your team, you should try to avoid making poor baseball decisions.

Jim Hendry must have forgot this fact last offseason.

Hendry decided to sell high on former Cubs' super-utilityman Mark Derosa. I didn't and still dont agree with this move. Derosa was not the guy you want involved in a "roster shakeup." Although, I do understand Hendry's business decision in trading a player who had reached his ceiling.

At the same time Hendry was patting his own back for what he thought was a shrewd move, he was getting conned himself. Milton Bradley and his agent somehow got Hendry to fall into his own trap. Jim bought high. Really high, like pie-in-the-sky high.

To make matters worse, another reason Hendry traded Derosa was to rid Chicago of Derosa's $5 million a year contract to get Bradley his three-year $30 million deal.

Is Bradley worth $10 million a year?

Maybe as a DH in the American League. It's obvious that the stress of playing the field everyday has weakened Breadley's batting prowess. The Cubs were looking for a lefthanded-hitting rightfielder, and Bradley has historically hit left handers (from the right side of the plate) better than righthanders (from the left side of the plate).

Is Mark Derosa at $5 million a year better than Milton Bradley at 10?

Of Course, Derosa was a stand up guy, a leader, and a great clubhouse presence. On the other hand, Milton Bradley is....Milton Bradley. The list of temper tantrums, hissy fits, and all out emotional breakdowns reads longer than Gideons' Bible.

At this point in the season it is clear to everyone, including Jim Hendry, that this was a huge mistake. Problem is this mistake has been made three times in the last three years.

In November of 2006 Hendry inked Alfonso Soriano to a eight-year $136 million blockbuster deal. Soriano was coming off a 40-40 season in which he also scored 119 runs and had 179 hits. All four of these stats were well above Soriano's marks from the three previous seasons.

Moving on.

In December of 2007 Hendry once agian won a MLB bidding war. This time his prize was Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome commanded a four-year, $48 million deal without even one MLB at-bat.

What do these three free-agent acquisitions have in common?

Jim Hendry bought high. Bradley, Soriano, and Fukudome were all coming off career years, and Hendry paid each player as if this was a yearly occurrence.

Jim, did you even look at their career numbers?

Did you even think about Sorians's age?

Was it even a thought that maybe Fukudome's talent would not transfer over to the MLB?

There is one thing Hendry has done for the Cubs, the city of Chicago, and for me personally.

He has put together a winning ballclub. The last two years have been heavenly compared to the dismal decade of the 1990's.

I will give credit where credit is due. Hendry brought in Aramas Ramirez while giving up aging SS Jose Hernandez and a couple minor leaguers who would never make the big-show.

Hendry also stole Derek Lee from the Marlin's with Hee Sop Choi being the focal point of the outgoing package. That trade has worked wonders for the "lovable losers," but on a sour note do not forget the Juan Pierre deal that killed the cubbie farm system.

Ricky Nolasco is pitching very well for Florida, and Pierre turned out to be a one-year rental coming off a career year.

The facts have now been laid on the table.

Hendry has signed three outfielders to unmovable contracts, and not unsurprisingly the players have not lived up to the hype or the money. Hendry has tossed away all of his outfield flexibility, and currently has now way to improve his team without spending more money. The guys he has signed are untradeable unless they complete a 180-degree turn around in the batters box.

So does Jim Hendry deserve another chance?

Another year or two to prove he can win a world series, a playoff series, or just a measly playoff game.

If there is one thing Hendry has proven, it's that he can get the guy he wants. Even if it is the wrong guy to get (see Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Raul Ibanez).

That's got to count for something right?

Bleacher Report - Articles by Aaron Gingold

Jim Hendry Deserves Another Chance