Jan

Yanks hire former Cubs GM Jim Hendry, announce various promotions

The Yankees have hired former Cubs GM Jim Hendry as a special assignment scout, the team announced. Bruce Levine says he got a multi-year contract. Hendry ran the Cubs from 2002 through the middle of last summer before being fired, and he’s the second former GM the Yankees have hired in recent years. Former Padres GM and current Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers served as a special advisor to Brian Cashman in 2010.

Towers is known for his ability to evaluate pitchers, but I honestly don’t know much about Hendry. At least two people with more access than I (Kevin Goldstein & Mike Ferrin) have applauded the move, so there’s that. I do know that Hendry was fired in late-July this past season, but stayed on another month to help the team sign its draft picks. That speaks to his character, if nothing else. Hendry is well-respected within the game and has done it all during his career, spending time as a college coach (at Creighton), a minor league coach, farm director, scouting director, assistant GM, and of course GM. I’m all in favor of adding voices to the front office, so I approve.

The Yankees also announced a series of promotions. Long-time assistant trainer Steve Donohue has been promoted to head trainer, replacing the now-retired Gene Monahan. Minor league head trainer Mark Littlefield will now be his assistant. Assistant GM Jean Afterman was given the title of senior vice president as well. Bill Eppler was promoted to assistant GM, with his former assistant Will Kuntz taking over as pro scouting director. The Eppler promotion is significant; he was the runner-up to Jerry Dipoto for the Angels GM job earlier this winter, and for the first time in a long time, there is an obvious in-house successor to Cashman.

Categories : Asides, Front Office

23 Comments»

STONE COLD Austin Romine says:

January 31, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Congrats to Aferman since she’s been with the org in the same role for the longest time. Eppler getting a promotion is a big deal as well.

Hendry was one hell of a risk taker in Chicago (in my opinion) but is a very knowledgeable baseball man.

MidlandTX says:

January 31, 2012 at 8:57 pm

I agree on both counts. Here is a guy who was willing to “go there,” with Zambrano, Milton Bradley, Soriano, and even Carlos Silva on his downslope, where it looks like he caught the falling knife. Crazy? Brilliant? Maybe both but either way I like the cut of his jib.

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Andy in Sunny Daytona says:

January 31, 2012 at 5:43 pm

Poor Damon Oppenheimer

STONE COLD Austin Romine says:

January 31, 2012 at 5:46 pm

You can only live off that 2006 draft for so long.

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- Ted Nelson says:
  
  January 31, 2012 at 6:54 pm
  
  Your name sake Austin Romine was drafted in 2007… In fact they’ve built a top farm system even after most of the 2006 guys have graduated or failed.
  
  Reply
The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:

January 31, 2012 at 5:49 pm

Poor Billy Eppler. Dude better have eyes in the back of his head.

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- tyrone sharpton says:
  
  January 31, 2012 at 6:23 pm
  
  he got a promotion, genius
  
  Reply
  - The Honorable Congressman Mondesi says:
    
    January 31, 2012 at 8:41 pm
    
    You’re a moron.
    
    Reply
    - Genghis says:
      
      January 31, 2012 at 10:35 pm
      
      Obviously tyrone doesn’t grasp the precarious position of the designated successor.
      
      Reply

Platano Man says:

January 31, 2012 at 6:02 pm

I got promoted to RAB number one fan today lol

jack cury says:

January 31, 2012 at 6:38 pm

That like winning the special olympics.

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JD says:

January 31, 2012 at 6:06 pm

Maybe part of girardi Rothschild chi town love fest?

Paul VuvuZuvella says:

January 31, 2012 at 6:25 pm

I wanted Lou Piniella.

STONE COLD Austin Romine says:

January 31, 2012 at 7:02 pm

Pinella joined the Yankees back in mid-december albeit as a color commentator for Y.E.S network.

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- Monterowasdinero says:
  
  January 31, 2012 at 7:35 pm
  
  Sweet!
  
  Reply

RetroRob says:

January 31, 2012 at 7:06 pm

Cashman being able to hire Hendry is another example of the advantages the Yankees have over some other teams. They can hire top-end talent, even if it’s for only a year, to bring in an outsider’s perspective.

kevin winters says:

January 31, 2012 at 7:31 pm

Eppler smh

Rich in NJ says:

January 31, 2012 at 8:57 pm

How has the Cubs’ mL system been rated under Hendry’s tenure? How have they been at developing their draft picks?

Rich in NJ says:

January 31, 2012 at 8:59 pm

As for an in-house replacement for Cashman, I would prefer Oppenheimer, although Cashman is young enough that it’s probably a moot point.

RetroRob says:

February 1, 2012 at 2:28 am

I suspect Cashman has his eyes on Levine’s President position. Levine is in his 60s, so that maybe Cash’s next job, with someone then taking Cash’s GM slot.

I suppose it would be good to have a Yankees president who is from the baseball side, although I wonder if in today’s world that’s actually the best use. Being president of the Yankees requires more than baseball player knowledge.

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- Tom Swift says:
  
  February 1, 2012 at 11:50 am
  
  It makes more sense for Afterman to be the next President, precisely because the job is more on the business and less on the baseball side. Interestingly, the modern Yankees value management continuity and promotion from within the ranks.
  
  Reply