When Jim Hendry walked up to the front desk at the O'Hare Hilton to get his room on Monday, he was greeted by Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro, who was also in line.
Minutes later, reporters converged on Hendry and jokingly asked how the Milton Bradley negotiations were going with Cleveland.
"I also talked to Brian Cashman and Josh Byrnes, too," Hendry said with a laugh, referring to the general managers of the Yankees and Diamondbacks, respectively.
It's good Hendry still has a sense of humor. He's liable to go crazy listening to speculation on where Bradley will land.
Still, Hendry's goal is to trade Bradley without eating the bulk of the remaining $21 million on his contract. One major league source said Monday the Rangers would gladly take Bradley back if the Cubs took on most of the contract.
Ryan Dempster told the Tribune two weeks ago that the players would welcome Bradley back "with open arms" if the Cubs decided to keep him. Many players openly criticized Bradley's behavior after he was suspended the final 15 games of the season.
"A lot of people have had worse exits at the end of the year than that and have returned," Hendry said. "There will be a lot of things that change personnel-wise over the winter I'm sure. And the goal will just be to do the best we can to put a good club on the field by spring training. Until people aren't here, as a general manager, I approach it like they are here."
Hendry said the Bradley situation would not be a distraction this
off-season, and that he'll go about his business as usual. He's
focusing now on re-signing John Grabow, who has made no secret of his
desire to remain with the Cubs.
Photo: Milton Bradley loses a ball in the sun. (Phil Velasquez/Tribune)
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It's nice that Hendry thinks that the Bradley situation is so funny, being that he created the mess on his own and messed up our 97 win team from a year ago. How about less joking around and more improvements?
Why is Hendry staying at the O'Hare Hilton? The guy lives in Park Ridge...you could walk to the O'Hare Hilton from there!
GET THAT BUM OUT OF CHICAGO!!!!
If the Cubs were to bring back Milton, they should insist that he sees a phycologist (SP) and maybe a Prozac prescription before spring traing starts!