RRosternomics
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JH

Jim Hendry

Born Jul 27, 1955 · Dunedin, FL · age 70

General manager for the Cubs (2003–2011).

9 seasons with salary-era data across 1 stint. All figures are franchise-level outcomes during the tenure, not solely attributable to one executive.

Overview

Titles0
Pennants0
Playoffs3
Record733–723
Win %0.503
-0.5GM WAR — wins above a replacement GM (org-adjusted, shrunk; per season) ±4.790th/195 execs
8.6Depth — 2+ WAR regulars per season (the breadth that drives TAB, not stars)12th/195 execs
-4.7Dead WAR — WAR/yr bled by sub-replacement players (closer to 0 = better)67th/195 execs
26%Dead money — payroll on <0.5-WAR players (lower = better)28th/195 execs
$9MCheap-talent surplus — $/yr of value from cost-controlled (pre-arb/arb) players above their pay; the selection engine, and the stickiest GM skill we track118th/195 execs
$7MDrafted surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own draftees (the develop-from-the-draft engine)79th/195 execs
$2MTraded-for surplus — cheap-talent surplus from cost-controlled players he acquired via trade108th/195 execs
$4MInt'l surplus — cheap-talent surplus from his own international signees27th/195 execs
-16.2TAB — talent above budget — roster-construction alpha (talent your budget bought above expectation), tenure total134th/195 execs
-37.1WAB — realized wins (TAB + the non-repeatable luck of converting talent to wins)173rd/195 execs
2.73Acquisition Leverage — playoff pts per acquired WAR, graded once in the year each deal's wins arrive (the repeatable decision skill)52nd/195 execs
-334Roster surplus $M178th/195 execs

Tenure breakdown

TeamRoleYearsSzns WAB WAB/yr TAB WAR surp HG Trade FA R5 AcqLev W-L% POPenWS Surp $M
▸ Cubs GM 2003–2011 9 -37.1 -4.12 -16.2 -151.3 +67.8 -7.9 +29.9 -0.8 2.73 0.503 3–– -334
Career total (1985+ data) 9 -37.1 -16.2 -151.3 +67.8 -7.9 +29.9 -0.8 2.73 0.503 3– – -334

Roster Construction

How the roster was sourced

by valueby volume

Share of acquired fWAR by channel vs. league average.

Build channels — net fWAR

Acquired minus surrendered / signed minus walked.

Home-grown (draft/intl)+67.8
Trade-7.9
Free agency+29.9
Rule 5 / minor draft-0.8
Sourcing mix: 27% draft · 40% FA · 34% trade · 0% R5

Roster value distribution — career average — depth vs. stars

Every roster slot ranked best→worst by WAR, averaged across Jim Hendry's seasons. Bars = his rosters; the black line = the league-average player at each slot. Staying above the line deep into the roster is the depth edge.

Players acquired — 156 players, by realized fWAR for the franchise (scroll for more)

PlayerPosTeam How Year Szns fWAR WAR/yr Lev
Derrek Lee 1B CHC Trade 2003 7 +21.4 +3.1 15.1
Aramis Ramírez 3B CHC Free agency 2006 8 +18.4 +2.3 3.6
Javier Báez SS CHC Draft 2011 7 +17.5 +2.5 –
Alfonso Soriano 2B/OF CHC Free agency 2006 6 +17.3 +2.9 11.3
Willson Contreras C CHC Intl FA 2009 7 +16.1 +2.3 –
Ryan Dempster P CHC Free agency 2004 9 +15.6 +1.7 0.7
Starlin Castro 2B/SS CHC Intl FA 2006 6 +11.5 +1.9 –
Ted Lilly P CHC Free agency 2006 4 +9.9 +2.5 6.6
Travis Wood P CHC Trade 2011 4 +7.9 +2.0 0.0
Michael Barrett C CHC Trade 2003 4 +7.5 +1.9 11.8
Sean Marshall P CHC Draft 2003 6 +7.3 +1.2 –
Mark DeRosa 2B/3B CHC Free agency 2006 2 +6.6 +3.3 5.0
Aramis Ramírez 3B CHC Trade 2003 8 +6.6 +0.8 3.6
Jeff Samardzija P CHC Draft 2006 5 +5.9 +1.2 –
Marlon Byrd OF CHC Free agency 2009 2 +5.7 +2.8 2.6
Matt Murton OF CHC Trade 2004 4 +5.2 +1.3 –
Kosuke Fukudome OF CHC Draft 2008 3 +5.0 +1.7 –
Matt Garza P CHC Trade 2011 3 +5.0 +1.7 1.0
Glendon Rusch P CHC Free agency 2004 2 +4.3 +2.2 15.5
Mike Fontenot 2B CHC Trade 2005 4 +4.1 +1.0 –
Darwin Barney 2B CHC Draft 2007 4 +3.6 +0.9 –
Jason Marquis P CHC Free agency 2006 2 +3.6 +1.8 2.8
Todd Walker 2B CHC Free agency 2004 2 +3.5 +1.8 8.6
Bob Howry P CHC Free agency 2005 3 +3.4 +1.1 0.3
Mark Grudzielanek 2B/SS CHC Free agency 2003 2 +3.3 +1.6 11.1
Juan Pierre OF CHC Trade 2005 1 +3.1 +3.1 0.6
Reed Johnson OF CHC Free agency 2008 4 +2.7 +0.7 6.9
Carlos Peña 1B CHC Free agency 2010 1 +2.5 +2.5 0.6
Jerry Hairston 2B/OF CHC Trade 2005 1 +2.2 +2.2 5.9
Jacque Jones OF CHC Free agency 2006 2 +2.2 +1.1 0.3
Tony Campana OF CHC Draft 2008 2 +2.1 +1.0 –
Kenny Lofton OF CHC Trade 2003 1 +2.1 +2.1 9.9
Rich Harden P CHC Trade 2008 2 +2.0 +1.0 9.1
David DeJesus OF CHC Free agency 2011 2 +1.8 +0.9 0.1
Welington Castillo C CHC Intl FA 2004 4 +1.7 +0.4 –
Tom Gorzelanny P CHC Trade 2009 2 +1.6 +0.8 0.9
Jeromy Burnitz OF CHC Free agency 2005 1 +1.5 +1.5 4.1
Carlos Silva P CHC Trade 2009 1 +1.5 +1.5 1.1
Jim Edmonds OF CHC Trade 2008 1 +1.5 +1.5 7.1
Henry Blanco C CHC Free agency 2004 3 +1.4 +0.5 1.7
LaTroy Hawkins P CHC Free agency 2003 1 +1.4 +1.4 7.1
Todd Hollandsworth OF CHC Free agency 2003 2 +0.9 +0.5 4.7
Damian Miller C CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.9 +0.9 4.3
Ángel Guzmán P CHC Trade 2006 4 +0.8 +0.2 –
Bryan LaHair 1B/OF CHC Free agency 2010 2 +0.8 +0.4 0.1
Shawn Estes P CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.8 +0.8 3.9
Mike Remlinger P CHC Trade 2003 3 +0.8 +0.3 0.6
Milton Bradley OF CHC Free agency 2009 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.1
Robinson Chirinos C CHC Free agency 2009 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Cliff Floyd OF CHC Free agency 2007 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.6
Junior Lake OF CHC Intl FA 2007 1 +0.7 +0.7 –
Ángel Pagán OF CHC Trade 2006 2 +0.7 +0.4 –
Neifi Pérez SS CHC Free agency 2004 2 +0.7 +0.3 3.6
Daryle Ward 1B/OF CHC Free agency 2006 1 +0.7 +0.7 1.8
Phil Nevin 1B/3B CHC Trade 2006 1 +0.7 +0.7 0.2
Jeff Baker 1B/2B CHC Trade 2009 2 +0.6 +0.3 2.4
Tyler Colvin OF CHC Draft 2006 1 +0.6 +0.6 –
Kent Mercker P CHC Free agency 2003 1 +0.6 +0.6 2.9
Blake Parker P CHC Draft 2006 2 +0.6 +0.3 –
Casey Coleman P CHC Draft 2008 2 +0.5 +0.3 –
Doug Davis P CHC Free agency 2011 1 +0.5 +0.5 0.2
Arismendy Alcántara 2B/OF CHC Intl FA 2008 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Sam Fuld OF CHC Draft 2004 1 +0.4 +0.4 –
Dave Sappelt OF CHC Trade 2011 1 +0.4 +0.4 0.0
Bobby Scales 3B/OF CHC Trade 2009 2 +0.4 +0.2 –
Dave Veres P CHC Free agency 2003 1 +0.4 +0.4 1.9
Randall Simon 1B CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.4 +0.4 1.8
Dallas Beeler P CHC Draft 2010 2 +0.3 +0.2 –
Esmailin Caridad P CHC Draft 2009 1 +0.3 +0.3 –
Scott Eyre P CHC Free agency 2005 3 +0.3 +0.1 0.0
Nomar Garciaparra SS CHC Free agency 2004 2 +0.3 +0.2 5.5
Aaron Heilman P CHC Trade 2009 1 +0.3 +0.3 0.4
Tony Womack 2B/SS CHC Trade 2003 2 +0.3 +0.2 0.2
Paul Bako C CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.3 +0.3 1.9
Brett Jackson OF CHC Draft 2009 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Chris Rusin P CHC Draft 2009 2 +0.2 +0.1 –
Matt Szczur OF CHC Draft 2010 1 +0.2 +0.2 –
Luis Vizcaíno P CHC Trade 2009 1 +0.2 +0.2 0.3
Kevin Hart P CHC Trade 2006 2 +0.1 +0.1 –
John Koronka P CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Calvin Murray OF CHC Free agency 2004 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.6
James Russell P CHC Draft 2007 3 +0.1 +0.0 –
Jason Waddell P CHC Trade 2009 1 +0.1 +0.1 –
Les Walrond P CHC Free agency 2006 1 +0.1 +0.1 0.0
Alberto Cabrera P CHC Intl FA 2005 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Erick Castillo C CHC Intl FA 2010 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
John Gaub P CHC Trade 2008 1 +0.0 +0.0 –
Ben Grieve OF CHC Free agency 2005 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.7
Scott Moore 1B/3B CHC Trade 2005 – -0.0 – –
Eric Patterson 2B/OF CHC Draft 2004 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
Félix Peña P CHC Intl FA 2009 1 -0.0 -0.0 –
So Taguchi OF CHC Free agency 2009 – -0.0 – –
Scott Williamson P CHC Free agency 2005 2 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Trenidad Hubbard OF CHC Trade 2003 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Jimmy Anderson P CHC Trade 2004 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.2
Freddie Bynum SS/OF CHC Trade 2006 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
Chad Tracy 1B/3B CHC Trade 2010 1 +0.0 +0.0 0.0
José Ascanio P CHC Trade 2009 1 -0.0 -0.0 0.2
Mitch Atkins P CHC Draft 2004 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Andrés Blanco 2B/SS CHC Free agency 2007 – -0.1 – –
Chris Carpenter P CHC Draft 2008 – -0.1 – –
Thomas Diamond P CHC Trade 2009 – -0.1 – –
Jake Fox OF CHC Draft 2003 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
DJ LeMahieu 2B CHC Draft 2009 – -0.1 – –
Jon Lieber P CHC Free agency 2008 4 -0.1 -0.0 0.5
Rafael Lopez C CHC Draft 2011 – -0.1 – –
Scott McClain 1B/3B CHC Free agency 2003 – -0.1 – –
Casey McGehee 3B CHC Draft 2003 – -0.1 – –
Luis Montañez OF CHC Free agency 2011 – -0.1 – –
Michael Restovich OF CHC Free agency 2006 – -0.1 – –
Brian Schlitter P CHC Trade 2008 1 -0.1 -0.1 –
Jermaine Van Buren P CHC Trade 2005 – -0.1 – –
Enrique Wilson 2B/3B/SS CHC Free agency 2005 – -0.1 – –
David Aardsma P CHC Trade 2005 – -0.2 – –
Jeimer Candelario 3B CHC Intl FA 2010 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Lendy Castillo P CHC Rule 5 2011 – -0.2 – –
Taylor Davis C CHC Intl FA 2011 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Tom Goodwin OF CHC Free agency 2003 1 -0.2 -0.2 1.4
Eric Jokisch P CHC Draft 2010 – -0.2 – –
Marcos Mateo P CHC Trade 2007 1 -0.2 -0.2 –
Roberto Novoa P CHC Trade 2005 1 -0.2 -0.2 1.1
Ramón Ortiz P CHC Free agency 2011 – -0.2 – –
Andy Pratt P CHC Trade 2004 – -0.2 – –
Brad Snyder 1B/OF CHC Trade 2008 – -0.2 – –
Jerome Williams P CHC Trade 2005 1 -0.2 -0.2 1.0
Justin Berg P CHC Trade 2005 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Blake DeWitt 2B/3B CHC Trade 2010 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
Sean Gallagher P CHC Draft 2004 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Kevin Gregg P CHC Trade 2008 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.0
José Macias 3B/OF CHC Trade 2003 1 -0.3 -0.3 0.7
Scott Maine P CHC Trade 2009 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
Dillon Maples P CHC Draft 2011 1 -0.3 -0.3 –
David Patton P CHC Trade 2008 – -0.3 – –
Neal Cotts P CHC Trade 2007 2 -0.3 -0.1 0.1
Jeff Beliveau P CHC Draft 2008 – -0.4 – –
Mark Guthrie P CHC Free agency 2003 2 -0.4 -0.2 0.0
Wade Miller P CHC Free agency 2006 – -0.4 – –
Logan Watkins 2B CHC Draft 2008 – -0.4 – –
Cliff Bartosh P CHC Trade 2005 – -0.5 – –
Chad Fox P CHC Free agency 2005 – -0.5 – –
Blake Lalli C/1B CHC Intl FA 2006 – -0.5 – –
Zac Rosscup P CHC Trade 2011 1 -0.5 -0.5 –
Andrew Cashner P CHC Draft 2008 1 -0.6 -0.6 –
Steve Clevenger C CHC Draft 2006 – -0.6 – –
Manny Corpas P CHC Free agency 2011 – -0.6 – –
John Mabry 1B/OF CHC Free agency 2005 – -0.6 – –
Brooks Raley P CHC Draft 2009 – -0.6 – –
Xavier Nady OF CHC Free agency 2010 – -0.7 – –
Rey Ordóñez SS CHC Free agency 2004 – -0.7 – –
Jeff Stevens P CHC Trade 2008 – -0.7 – –
Rafael Dolis P CHC Intl FA 2004 1 -0.8 -0.8 –
Ramón Martínez 2B/SS CHC Free agency 2003 – -0.8 – –
John Grabow P CHC Free agency 2009 1 -0.9 -0.9 0.4
Aaron Miles 2B CHC Free agency 2008 – -1.4 – –
Josh Vitters 3B CHC Draft 2007 – -1.4 – –
Koyie Hill C CHC Free agency 2006 – -5.0 – –

WAB = wins above what the team's payroll predicted (resource-controlled). WAR surplus = era-neutral value (WAR minus payroll in win-equivalents). Roster surplus $M = dollar value of WAR over cost. Build channels (realized fWAR): HG = home-grown via amateur draft / international signing; Trade = acquired minus surrendered (incl. purchases/waivers); FA = signed minus walked; R5 = Rule-5 / minor-league-draft pickups. Credit follows the acquisition year — home-grown to the regime at the player's draft/signing (not whoever was in the chair when he peaked), trade/FA/R5 to the GM who made the move. Players acquired as prospects before debuting (e.g. Smoltz, Bagwell; Rule-5 picks like Uggla) are counted as trade/R5, not home-grown. All are franchise-level outcomes during the stint, not solely attributable to one executive.

Graphs

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Rosternomics — quantifying front-office skill, attribution-clean. Follow @rosternomics on X. Decision-makers on record back to 1933; resource-controlled metrics (WAR & payroll) cover 1985–2026.
Data: FanGraphs (WAR), Baseball-Reference & the Chadwick Bureau register (rosters, IDs), the Lahman Database, Baseball America prospect rankings (via The Baseball Cube), and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0); bios are original. Emoji graphics by OpenMoji (CC BY-SA 4.0).
All figures are franchise-level outcomes credited to the decision-maker in the acquisition year — not solely attributable to one executive.