Chisox73
04-08-2006, 05:26 PM
Cubs give Hendry two-year extension
GM plans to negotiate deal with Baker at 'appropriate time'
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060408&content_id=1390078&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry received a two-year contract extension through the 2008 season on Saturday, and one of his first orders of business will be to keep manager Dusty Baker beyond the 2006 season.
"It's a great, great franchise that I'm proud to represent," said Hendry, 50, who was named the general manager in July 2002.
"Unfortunately, we didn't do the job the last year or so like we planned," Hendry said. "We'll continue to do the best we can to get back on the track that we were on and moving forward. I think we have a great future ahead of us. Hopefully, we'll continue to play well out of the gate. I'm very fortunate to be here."
Cubs team president and CEO Andy MacPhail announced the extension.
"There's one basic reason you would do this, and it's that we have all the confidence in the world that he's capable of getting us to the World Series," MacPhail said. "There's plenty of evidence on the field to back me up in my belief of that."
The contracts of both Hendry and Baker ran through 2006. Hendry said he will talk to the Cubs manager at the "appropriate time" and that he hasn't set a time frame for negotiations. MacPhail said he'll stay out of those negotiations, emphasizing that the manager and general manager need to have a good relationship.
"Dusty and I have a terrific relationship," Hendry said. "I feel the same about Dusty as the day we hired him. We've had a lot of chats, and we'll continue to have a lot of chats about his situation. There's no controversy."
Last year, Baker was rumored to be unhappy in Chicago and headed elsewhere, but he denied those reports.
"I think some of the things written about Dusty not wanting to be part of the Cubs were completely unfounded," Hendry said. "He was very upset last year on both occasions when stories came out that he was pursuing other jobs and was next in line for this job. He never had any interest in going anywhere. He's never given me any indication that he wasn't on the same page as I am."
Before Saturday's game, Baker said it was important for any team to have continuity in leadership and establish a basic philosophy, and that winning takes time. The Cubs got off to a fast start and won the 2003 National League Central Division in Hendry's and Baker's first year together.
"I think more success is on the horizon," Baker said.
MacPhail complimented Hendry's ability to anticipate, be prepared and most of all, not be afraid.
"In this game, it's all about statistics," MacPhail said. "Nobody's batting 1.000. The last thing you can do is be afraid, and God knows he's not."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
GM plans to negotiate deal with Baker at 'appropriate time'
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060408&content_id=1390078&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry received a two-year contract extension through the 2008 season on Saturday, and one of his first orders of business will be to keep manager Dusty Baker beyond the 2006 season.
"It's a great, great franchise that I'm proud to represent," said Hendry, 50, who was named the general manager in July 2002.
"Unfortunately, we didn't do the job the last year or so like we planned," Hendry said. "We'll continue to do the best we can to get back on the track that we were on and moving forward. I think we have a great future ahead of us. Hopefully, we'll continue to play well out of the gate. I'm very fortunate to be here."
Cubs team president and CEO Andy MacPhail announced the extension.
"There's one basic reason you would do this, and it's that we have all the confidence in the world that he's capable of getting us to the World Series," MacPhail said. "There's plenty of evidence on the field to back me up in my belief of that."
The contracts of both Hendry and Baker ran through 2006. Hendry said he will talk to the Cubs manager at the "appropriate time" and that he hasn't set a time frame for negotiations. MacPhail said he'll stay out of those negotiations, emphasizing that the manager and general manager need to have a good relationship.
"Dusty and I have a terrific relationship," Hendry said. "I feel the same about Dusty as the day we hired him. We've had a lot of chats, and we'll continue to have a lot of chats about his situation. There's no controversy."
Last year, Baker was rumored to be unhappy in Chicago and headed elsewhere, but he denied those reports.
"I think some of the things written about Dusty not wanting to be part of the Cubs were completely unfounded," Hendry said. "He was very upset last year on both occasions when stories came out that he was pursuing other jobs and was next in line for this job. He never had any interest in going anywhere. He's never given me any indication that he wasn't on the same page as I am."
Before Saturday's game, Baker said it was important for any team to have continuity in leadership and establish a basic philosophy, and that winning takes time. The Cubs got off to a fast start and won the 2003 National League Central Division in Hendry's and Baker's first year together.
"I think more success is on the horizon," Baker said.
MacPhail complimented Hendry's ability to anticipate, be prepared and most of all, not be afraid.
"In this game, it's all about statistics," MacPhail said. "Nobody's batting 1.000. The last thing you can do is be afraid, and God knows he's not."
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.