The trade deadline came and went on Chicago’s North side much as it did in Major League cities across the country.
And while a team boasting a payroll north of $120 million (!) that finds itself twenty-one games below .500 would appear to be natural sellers at the non-waiver deadline, the man you see above reacted largely with inaction.
The Cubs sent Kosuke Fukudome to the Indians, who only agreed to take him on after the Cubs agreed to pay a large portion of the remainder of his salary. It was a move that left many fans thinking was the drop that would eventually lead to a waterfall, a veteran purge the likes of which the team hadn’t seen in years. Visions of the jerseys of Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood and Carlos Pena all hitting the discount rack at Wrigleyville Sports across the street from the marquee danced through fans’ heads as they chuckled with glee.
Instead, nothing. Not one single move.
Jim Hendry is not an unintelligent man, but these days he’s sure doing a hell of a job at playing one on TV.
The look of consternation on the most successful GM the Cubs have had in recent memory if not ever in the picture above is one familiar to North Siders this season. The furrowed brow, the hands placed squarely hips, the imaginary cartoon thought bubble over his head reading “I’m too old for this s**t.”
And really, it doesn’t matter if you’re 1 or 100, we’re all too old to be dealing with this…er stuff, that has been the 2011 Chicago Cubs.
Saying this season hasn’t been fun at the corner of Clark and Addison would be akin to saying losing both your legs could potentially hamper your ability to walk. A roster populated with overpriced veterans and a bloated payroll haven’t proven to be the most worthwhile investment the Ricketts family has made in recent memory.
Hendry’s inaction at the deadline doesn’t mean the Cubs won’t ship some of their overpriced veterans out eventually though. Hendry has reportedly said he’s willing to make a deal before the waiver deadline expires later this month.
The $126 million question here — what, pray tell, is he waiting for?
In a division where seemingly everyone is in pennant contention, the Cubs find themselves a whopping 16.5 games out of first place, their fall to the cellar cushioned by the woeful Houston Astros. However Astros’ GM Ed Wade knows what we all know — his team stinks and he needed to cash in his chips while the gettin’ was still good. So he did just that, sending a pair of his outfielders to contenders in the NL East in exchange for prospects that could help the franchise out later on down the line.
Why exactly didn’t Hendry do the same?
The Cubs are essentially a one stop shop for any contender looking for a spare part, as seemingly everyone is available. This year’s roster is a collection of talented players who have come together to make one very lousy team. That’s why Trader Jim should have channeled his inner used-car salesman when opposing GMs called.
You say you’re looking for a dependable right handed reliever to get you through the 7th or 8th inning? We’ve got a Kerry Wood or a Carlos Marmol that would be perfect for all your playoff needs. How about a power hitting third baseman with an aspiring contract? Aramis Ramirez has been hotter than the Chicago summer of late. Or perhaps you’re looking for a similar fit but on the opposite end of the diamond? Check out Carlos Pena…and as an added bonus, he’ll even bring his own glove!
Keeping this team together for as long as Hendry has only lessens what the Cubs are going to be able to get in return, because nobody’s going to want to give up top prospects for a guy that’s only going to be wearing their uniform for a month or two. Ramirez and Pena both got hot at just the right time too, making the inaction even more baffling and downright infuriating.
It’s not like there aren’t worthy players waiting in the wings either. Trading Pena frees up a space for Bryan LaHair or Rebel Ridling to show what they can do at the big league level. Getting rid of Wood and Marmol means more work for guys like closer-of-the-future Chris Carpenter. Heck even eating most of what’s left of Alfonso Soriano’s albatross of a contract would give the Bleacher Bums a glimpse of the future in Brett Jackson.
While it’s not a rule that non-contenders have to completely strip themselves of all usable parts at the deadline, when you haven’t won a title in over 100 years and aren’t showing any signs of life this season, one would think that it would be better to simply let the kids play rather than hold on to the veterans blocking their place.
