From the Wire ... Greg Maddux Hired as Special Assistant to Jim Hendry

By Neil on January 11, 2010 31 Vote 0 Votes

According to a report from Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000, the Cubs have hired Greg Maddux to be a special assistant to Jim Hendry.

Greg Maddux will help with instruction for Major Leaguers and Minor Leaguers during Spring Training and will scout throughout the season. Maddux will also provide input to Hendry on potential trades or free agent signings.

The official announcement will be made on Monday afternoon.

Updated - 7:29pm CST - With additional information on the hiring of Greg Maddux

Update - The official release from Cubs.com

Greg Maddux joined Gary Hughes, Ken Kravec, Dave Littlefield, Louis Eljaua and Mike Valarezo as special assistants to Jim Hendry on Monday.

According to the press release, Maddux's responsibilities will include:

Assisting the Coaching Staffs at the Major and Minor League levels during Spring Training
Assisting in the development of Cubs minor leaguers during the regular season
Assisting Jim Hendry and the baseball operations department in talent evaluation

Jim Hendry on the hiring of Greg Maddux:

"We are thrilled to have Greg back with the Chicago Cubs. He has such a vast knowledge of all phases of the game and the ultimate respect of everyone from the players to the front office. The addition of Greg Maddux makes us a better organization."

Greg Maddux on his new job:

"I'm looking forward to working my way back into the game and am happy that the Cubs have given me the opportunity to do that. I started my career with the Cubs and Chicago has always been the best place in the league to play. I'm eager to do whatever I can to help the organization and am looking forward to getting started at spring training."

The hiring of Greg Maddux was a solid baseball decision by the Cubs' organization. Not because he is a former player and fan favorite, because he was the best pitcher of his generation. The entire organization will benefit by the hiring of Greg Maddux.

woody34

What if this was all a Ricketts hiring to have Maddux learn the Cubs system inside and out, and to learn Hendry's job to take it over after Ricketts boots him out? Maddux is one of the smartest players to ever play the game, he could be the type of brain needed to be the GM of the Chicago Cubs

Matt Haggard

Great news.

So glad to keep Greg in our organization. I felt that it would be a no-brainer that he would go back to Atlanta's front office or Arizona's to stay close to home.

I hope this is the start of a long-time relationship between the two parties!

Neil

Good to hear from you Matt!

Matt Haggard

Ditto, Neil.

Still reading everyday. I'll be around for Talkin' once the season starts. I just can't bring myself to post much on hot stove.

I use the winter to get my life back, haha. =)

agustin rexach

hahaha lol! many of us do Matt...I use it to work so that I can see the games :p

**Neil is like a real player...in the offseason he is getting ready for the on-season! Thank God he married Abby Rickets lol!

Reggie

Greg Maddux is my hero but this move reeks of indecision, why didn't the Ricketts family (who obviously aren't happy with Hendry's decision making) just go the whole way and get rid of Hendry and make Maddux GM (the powers given to him virtually make him a GM)? In essence we have 2 GENERAL MANAGERS (a critical part of any baseball team). All this will lead to is in fighting between the two, who gets the final say? Who's word will the Ricketts listen to more? Well done Cubs for another muck up.

Matt Haggard

No no, more often than not, teams will have special assistants to the GM.

This has nothing to do with how much they like or dislike Hendry and has more to do with keeping a personal favorite of the owners and fans within the organization.

Reggie

Granted but no other team has a legend as their special assistant. Given his popularity and the influence he has I just think it's a very odd role for Maddux to take (I can't think of many assistants that totally outshine the coach in world sport) unless his eyes are on the main prize as GM (if we have a poor start he's the ready made replacement).

Matt Haggard

I do see what you're saying.

But I would think Greg would be more interested in coaching after his kids grow up more so than making front-office decisions.

In fact, in reading all of the pressers it seems this is really just an over-glorified roving instructor and talent evaluation job.

SuzyS

Was just reading Muskat Ramblings re the

list of people appearing at the convention....BUT the real story was the comments section...There's a lot of angry Cubs fans out there...angry at JH.

While I applaud the Maddux signing...the cynic in me looks at the timing...I think

management is aware of the negative sentiment out there...and timed the Maddux announcement to blunt the critics.

cubbieblue25

I love that Maddux is here. I think you are on to something Suzy. Its a little late in the game to get help from Maddux.

Unless is was his choice.

Its like spending a trillion dollars then holding a summit to tout that you saved 100 million dollars.

Window dressing.

cubs1967

in english this means............see ya larry in 2011 when ryno is the mgr and mad dog is the pitching coach......JH is just getting him back into baseball to set the stage.......hmmmmm Jh brought maddux back as a player and now as a front office person........yeah, the JH haters, keep on comin on..jimbo is an idiot right???.........5 winning seasons in 7 yrs........

could grace be next..........

and someone tell smardz U listen to everything maddux says........u eat every dinner w. him during spring training, U meet him for breakfast every morning..........haha

John_CC

I love it! I think the Special Assistant title/role is a far better decision than pitching coach. Maddux will be evaluating talent and making recommendations. I am very please that he has a front office role. It is a great start to the re-ordering of the upper management.

SuzyS

jc 3-6-3...I'm with you on this...best move of the off season...and reason for true hope down the line.

John G.

Great news for a palindrome day (01-11-10)

Just like 3-6-3 is a palindrome name!!

Or SysyS.

Oh wait.

Nevermind!!!

nick

This is Great News!!! Welcome back Mad Dog.

Wilson, T

He plead the 5th. At the time steroids weren't illegal, correct? I'm not sure his admission is grounds for removal from the ballot. It's easy to make impulsive decisions at this point. In regards to signing the professor, I think his insight will do nothing but help everyone on the entire team, position players included.

SuzyS

Actually, steroids were illegal for the general populace for years before baseball began to address the issue.

Wilson, T

Yes I know they were illegal if they were not prescribed, but according to MLB were they illegal?

SuzyS

At the time of the hearings yes...when he first started using...no.

SuzyS

Beisball has been berry berry good to me...but I still need an interpreter!!! :)

Ripken Boy

Should of signed him for the 5th starters spot or at least to replace Rothschild

cc002600

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat ???

McGwire did steroids ?????

Who could have seen that coming ???

next thing you'll tell me is that Bonds and Sosa did steroids too !!!

:-)

SuzyS

It will be interesting to see what happens re McGwire's statement...and any repercussions ie...lying to Congress.

Glad he came clean...but he should now be removed from the HOF ballet...I wonder if Sammy will ever open up?

YUP...Mad Dog is back...finally.

John_CC

i don't think he ever lied to Congress, at least not in a legal lie.

But how cares! Maddux as Special Assistant to Hendry! That is the best news in years.

And ccOO...you've got to believe that this is Ricketts move all the way. I don't think this is something that Hendry has always wanted and finally "convinced" Ricketts to do it.

Greg does like Rothchild, so he isn't gone, yet...more like, adios Crane!

Jim C (Tinley Park, IL)

Technically, he didn't lie. He simply refused to talk about the past.

Tony

This is a great move. This gives Maddux the chance to see if he would enjoy being a regular instructor in spring training and he can be as involved during the season as he would like to be. This is a good way to test the waters on coaching.

It was always said that having Maddux was like having another pitching coach in the dugout.

In other news, Mark McGwire admits to using Steriods for a 10 year period, including the magical 1998 season. I'm glad that's cleared up, for awhile there I thought he was clean...