Are the Chicago Cubs in Good Hands?

Since taking over as Chicago Cubs general manager midway through the 2002 season, Jim Hendry has put together three central division winners. However, the Cubs are yet to advance to a World Series under the 53-year-old Hendry.

Jim Hendry was promoted to general manager on July 5, 2002, and he immediately fired manager Don Baylor. The move was an indication that Hendry would be much more aggressive than Andy MacPhail.  

The results have been mixed during Hendry's current run as general manager, but Hendry has taken pride as being more direct than his predecessor. Aggression can be a trait of a successful general manager, but Hendry has always had the financial backing from upper management to do as chooses, which makes his job much easier.  

Hendry will always be praised for putting together the best Cubs corner infield since the 1960s. He acquried Aramis Ramirez for Bobby Hill and Jose Hernandez. A year later Hendry acquired Derek Lee for Choi. 

The Ramirez and Lee moves might be the best moves, but the ability to trade Todd Hundley in 2003 and Sosa in 2005 were the most creative. Not only did Hendry trade the Hundley contract, but he also acquired two productive players in Karros and Grudzielanek.

The Sosa trade in 2005 brought back Mike Fontenot who will compete for the everyday second base job with Aaron Miles. 

With the good, though, comes the bad. The worst move by Hendry came in 2006 when he traded away top prospects Pinto and Nolasco for overrated center fielder Juan Pierre. The move was a sign of desperation after Hendry lost out on Rafael Furcal. Not only did Hendry make this horrible trade, but he did not trade Pierre at the trade deadline. 

Will this offseason go down as a good or bad offseason for the Cubs general manager? In trying to make the club more "balanced" he has taken a lot of heat by trading fan favorite Mark DeRosa.

As good as the Cubs were last year, they were one of the worst left-handed hitting teams in all of baseball. Hendry is concerned about making the best moves for the Cubs and not the most popular.

He is waiting patiently for the new ownership to be announced, and will likely need permission to add another quality starter. Peavy appears to be high on the wish list. The Cubs appear to have the players to complete a trade, but the new ownership will have to okay another significant payroll increase. 

Hendry's good moves have trumped his bad ones, but he isn't in the same league as a Kenny Williams, Walt Jockety, Dave Dombrowski, or a Theo Epstein. As of right now, Hendry is a good—but not great—general manager.

Division titles are nice, but the Cubs need to at least make a World Series for Hendry to be considered an elite general manager. 

Will this offseason prove to be the one that makes Hendry an elite general manager? We will see as the future unfolds into preseason.