What will Kendall's extension look like?

[jersey cubs fan]

Odds are that any sale of the Cubs is going to be a prolonged process that will most likely keep the Jim Hendry/Gary Hughes tandem in control throughout, at least, the first half of the offseason. This is the time when most extensions are given to veteran players. It's when guys like Glendon Rusch, Henry Blanco, Antonio Alfonseca and others are given an early retirement package from Jim Hendry, signing contracts worth millions and millions of dollars. Now that Hendry has traded for Jason Kendall, and with the franchise showing absolutely no faith in Soto being a stop gap catcher for the next couple years, it's virtually assured they will come to terms on an extension. Hendry pays no attention to all the information available that tells us older players decline, old catchers decline quickly, and past-their-prime players are not worth the money. So, what do you see happening sometime in early November?

[Drew Doughty]

2/10 sounds about right. might add another year at the same salary.

[CDBears1259]

Wishful thinking, but I can only hope that Hendry wises up or the last option takes place.

[NCCubFan]

I said 2/10. I don't see him getting a 3-year contract, but he may get 2 years with a team option/buyout clause or maybe a vesting option based on gmes played or plate appearances during the second season. I'm sure that, as a starter, Hendry would pay him more than he's paying Blanco as a backup.

[CyHawk_Cub]

Was tempted to go w/ the Hank White special, I went w/ 2/10 due to the fact that Kendall is such a "gamer" & "winner" who will necessarily perform at career averages w/ no decline in the coming years. he obviously thus deserves a more lucrative deal than that given to hank.

[E.J.]

I'm praying Hendry is gone before he has a chance to give Kendall an extension.

[Derwood]

3/15. I made this joke in the transaction thread, but it really isn't funny

[soccer10k]

A resigning of Z will hopefully take up any money available for Kendall.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm one of the biggest Hendry haters around and I think he doesn't sign Kendall to an extension. That being said, there's a good chance Hendry isn't even around next year. I'm not worried about Kendall being here next year and truthfully, if he's going to be as bad as he was the last time out he's going to be a goner even before the season finishes.

[CubmanPi]

I was going to guess 2/5, but since it was also pointed out that this is the blanco special, no way he gets less than 3/15.

[jersey cubs fan]

42% expecting at least a 2 year extension, 42% expecting he won't be back. The remainder thinks somes of 1 year deal.

[Banedon]

His extension could look like a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl....

[CyHawk_Cub]

His extension could look like a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl....

 

LOL!!! What movie is that from, I can't remember...

[Banedon]

His extension could look like a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl....

 

LOL!!! What movie is that from, I can't remember...

 

Airplane.

[CubColtPacer]

Izturis was loved by Hendry and co also, but they didn't give him an extension. I think the only ways they give Kendall one is 1) If he plays really really well from now till the end of the season or 2) if the team makes it to the WS with him as the starting catcher even if he's not playing that well.

[CyHawk_Cub]

His extension could look like a hat, or a brooch, or a pterodactyl....

 

LOL!!! What movie is that from, I can't remember...

 

Airplane.

 

Oh, right... the uhh, non-straight air traffic control guy..

[Derwood]

someone needs to go to a pirates board and start this same poll but with izturis

[jersey cubs fan]

Izturis was loved by Hendry and co also, but they didn't give him an extension. I think the only ways they give Kendall one is 1) If he plays really really well from now till the end of the season or 2) if the team makes it to the WS with him as the starting catcher even if he's not playing that well.

 

They didn't have to, he was already signed through the next year. But Izturis wasn't so much loved as he was weakly justified. Hendry went out of his way to make a change at catcher this year, starting with Barrett and ending with Kendall. I think that's different than looking to trade Maddux somewhere with very few people showing interest and taking back Izturis. But I think the Cubs would need a situation similar to Theriot surprising on the upsiding and Cedeno raking in the minors to compare them at all. Half the issue is they don't have any realistic starting C candidate in house for 2008. The closest thing was Bowen, and he's gone, and they aren't showing any interest in Soto.

[TruffleShuffle]

I picked the worst possible option, which was the first one.