Bleed Cubbie Blue · Aug 2, 2021
In appreciation of Javier Báez
Photo by David Banks/Getty Images The first thing to remember about Javier Báez’ tenure with the Chicago Cubs is how it began.
It was revealed after the fact that Tom Ricketts had fired Jim Hendry as general manager before the 2011 draft. Hendry, though, was left in place to conduct that draft and the trade deadline before finally being let go in August and being replaced on an interim basis by Randy Bush (who, incidentally, is still with the Cubs as an assistant GM).
Ricketts did one other thing for Hendry before his departure. He gave him an unlimited budget for the 2011 draft, back in the day before draft slotting and caps on draft budgets, and told him to go get the best player he could.