Cubs’ Hendry On a Roll

By: Chicago Sports Review

It’s one thing when the team’s on fire, but the general manager?GM’s in Chicago should watch Jim Hendry operate right now. He’s rollin’.

Hendry remains quietly in the midst of one of the better GM streaks this city has seen in some time. A microcosm for Hendry’s talents, the negotiations with Greg Maddux and difficult agent Scott Boras have been handled with tight lips and solid dollar figures. But perhaps most notably, they have also been handled with confidence, class and credibility for the Cubs organization as a whole.

Regardless of the Boras camp’s ultimate decision, the Tribune brass and Cubs fans alike should acknowledge professionalism and an acute sense of respect to all participants when they see it.

With the Cubs having ante upped for the crafty Hall of Famer, the likelihood of his eventual arrival in Chicago is brighter than ever. The Maddux camp smugly frowned upon the San Francisco Giants recent contract proposal. Now Hendry has wisely, and with deft timing, upped his own offer.

Confidence in his own organization has been shown from the beginning. With Boras’ clients, GM’s often fear making low bids for the player. Boras tends to treat this as a personal affront, says so publicly, and then pulls his client in another, greener direction. An example was Seattle’s paltry $18-20 million per season offer to Alex Rodriguez prior to his uber-contract in Texas. The team was admonished, and A-Rod went to Texas and lived miserably ever after. Wait, money can’t buy happiness?

Hendry did in no way low-balled Maddux and Boras initially. He gave a confident offer, assured in his assessment of what Maddux would bring to Chicago as a likely third starter in the rotation, and in light of a depressed market. Naturally, Boras played coy, and insisted initially that his client would not play for much less than $10 million per season.

What did Hendry do? He waited, quietly and confidently. Perfect.

Hendry showed confidence, and didn’t waffle with his initial two-year offer, reportedly between $10-12 million. He waited for the market to respond, which it has, though extremely sluggishly for a player of Maddux’s caliber. Hendry’s offer wisely gauged that there simply is not enough financial flexibility this late in the free-agent process for many teams with post-season hopes to put together an offer surpassing the Cubs.

Hendry displayed class by not making a peep regarding Maddux’s clear decline over the past two or so years, or about Boras’ ridiculous perceptions and apparent negotiating gamesmanship. He simply continues stating that what the Cubs have offered Maddux seems fair, and that they have a sincere desire to bring him back to Chicago.

No rhetoric, no bad-mouthing, no public relations games, no wavering.

Lastly, Hendry displays credibility for a franchise perceptibly on the rise. He knows that Chicago is an appealing place to play, with a team geared for a World Series trip, and a fan base so amped and loyal, games played in February in a snowy Wrigley seem sure to sell out if reality would allow it. A warm Old Style anybody?

Boras clients, notably A-Rod, and Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, have often been placed on doormat teams with exceptional dollar figures being the pure deciding factor. Maddux, who has not missed the post-season in 12 years with Atlanta, has no desire to play for a team that could be called, “The best triple-A team in the majors,” and has said so publicly.

Hendry wisely utilized this knowledge in drafting the first proposal for Maddux, which was surely - and now obviously less - than what the Cubs would have ultimately been willing pay to get him back in town.

Wins are worth money, or a lack thereof, and Hendry knew it.

The result? Most think the Cubs will land Maddux this week, as early as today, for dollar figures far less than Boras boldly, but typically, predicted for his client months ago. And they will have maintained the kind of financial flexibility necessary to make changes in mid-season, similar to last season when they acquired Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Randall Simon - power cables for a squad that needed a jump.

Hendry is in the midst of fine dealings that Kenny Williams, Jerry Angelo, and others in this town should carefully observe. The Cubs franchise will proudly roll out a solid product in April, but pride in front office during these cold months can be just as important.

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