Cubs To Retain GM Jim Hendry

The Cubs will hold onto general manager Jim Hendry, barring a change of thinking among the team's owners, the Ricketts family, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter).

There has been plenty of speculation over the course of this season, another disappointing one for the North Siders, that this could be Hendry's last year at the helm, although it has been reported previously on several occasions that the Ricketts and Hendry have a strong relationship. Tom Ricketts, chairman and one of the owners of the Cubs, gave Hendry a vote of confidence last season.

This offseason and next will be big ones for the Cubs. Aramis Ramirez (club option), Carlos Pena, John Grabow and Kerry Wood will be free agents after this season. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Sean Marshall are slated to be free agents the following offseason. Alfonso Soriano, whose eight-year, $136MM deal has been a defining transaction of Hendry's tenure, is under contract through 2014.

Hendry became the GM of the Cubs in 2002, succeeding Andy MacPhail. The Cubs have reached the postseason three times under his guidance.