The maddening part is that everyone saw it coming months ago. But he needed to prove his genius. There's a word that has NEVER been associated with Jim Hendry.
Does it help to imagine how difficult it will be for him to guarantee that third year? It won't be difficult at all. There is essentially zero chance that the third year doesn't vest.
Randy Wells is a perfect example of why coaches use the expression "trust your stuff". He throws strikes and gets ahead in the count and doesn't get himself into a bunch of situations where the hitters can just sit on his less-than-stellar stuff.
If any team is in a position to take a chance like cutting Gaudin and keeping Patton, it's the Cubs. Nobody has as many "bottom half of the pitching staff" alternatives as we do.