Never. Soriano is one year older than Byrd and his contract is longer than Byrd’s. Now, if you’re referring to the notion that Soriano would be benched, I don’t see that happening unless the Cubs get an actual Major League CFer. SAMMY BALLGAME FULD doesn’t count. Maybe if you put Theriot on his shoulders, they might be as big as a Major League player. Soriano played hurt last year and was horrible. I expect him to bounce back this year. Maybe not a stud, but 3-4 WAR player.

Vernon Wells.

The Gathright signing was one month prior to Pie being traded, yes. Feliz wasn’t actually moved until the 40-man started becoming a problem.

“I’m pretty sure Pie was out of options”

He was, but it wouldn’t have mattered. Pie was traded because 1) Gathright had just filled his roster spot 2) Lou wont play rookies unless absolutely forced to – Gathright meant he wouldn’t be forced to

So instead of actually giving our number one prospect a shot to stop the 13 year and counting black hole in CF, we gave him away for a borderline out of option bullpen pitcher that I believe we can now sign off the minor league free agent pool if we wanted.

“Whether he’ll turn into something special remains to be seen.”

Pie was already arguably more valuable last season then our newly signed 4th OF has been over his career. But instead Byrd will be the next over-paid/over-hyped/under-productive player for Center – our 6th CF in as many years – while we get to enjoy the whole nothing we got out of our prospect.

You honestly don’t think Hendry is that bad?

Roster-management side: at least 5 but usually closer to 10 out of option players every season. This season it is Baker, Blanco, Fontenot, Gorzelanny, Guzman, Hill, Marshall, and the recently departed Fox. (also Marmol, Soto and Theriot, but doubtful we would want to send them down) Next season add Grey, Hoffpauir, Fuld, Shark and Wells to whoever is left from above.

Money-management side: Well, this is pretty obvious. But a huge chunk of it comes from his letting every single action be known in the media to the point he basically bids against himself on most of the stuff he does. The money issues also go hand in hand with
Negotiations: Bradley a 3 year deal? Oh sorry, 2 with 3rd vesting at 75 Games (somehow including pinch hit opportunities) Must have been one heck of a dinner he was taken to. How many no trade clauses? How many extra millions to guys like Dempster, Ramirez and Lee on “home-town discount” deals? Speaking of hometown discounts, that 1/4 with incentives to 7+ was wonderful to Wood when his best was 2/6 from other clubs! Overall, 600+ Million to long term contracts over 4 off seasons? And now 5 years of spending a total of 415 Million for a committed 22 seasons going solely to our OF? (which I might add has pretty much resulted in an average at best OF every season with constant holes to fill.) Shoot, how much did we just give Grabow despite having almost no payroll flexibility this offseason?

Drafting: going on 9th season of being GM. Most productive prospect drafted under his watch? Sean Marshall. System was ranked 1st in baseball when he took over. Almost every even half-way decent player he has called up from the minors was in the system before he gained total control. Since then, almost zip added and a nearly last place system ranking last season.

Hendry has been a joke. When MacPhail left the system, Hendry was allowed to spend till his heart was content trying to buy a winner. 600+ MM in longterm commitments later we had 2 playoff appearances, 0 playoff wins and gigantic ballooning contracts which meant meting payroll between 2009 and 2011 was going to be near impossible.

Some people still give him endless praise for two trades he made way back in 2003. Some people still give him unwarranted praise for reaching the playoffs in a pretty weak division with a bought team that he crippled the future for. Some people give him praise because 1 or 2 of his countless free agent contracts worked out well. Thinking about those things rationally, I have no clue what else he can even be praised on – those are the only positives he has brought and they are even pretty pitiful in the context. His entire offseason plan is to redo his 2009 offseason – that alone speaks volumes. Honestly, calling him a joke is probably going light on him. He is just a buffoon.

This is going to be a very long, painful rebuilding.