A Smart Move by Jim Hendry?

Yes, I do think the Carlos Pena signing was a good one. Some people will negatively obsess over his .196 batting average in 2010, but he also had 28 HR, 84 RBI, and 87 walks, which would have led the Cubs in all three categories. It's interesting to compare the two Chicago first basemen, the other of whom just signed a three-year contract for more money than Pena received.

Pena (career): .351 OBP, .490 SLG, 123 OPS+, 33 years old.

Konerko (career): .356 OBP, .498 SLG, 119 OPS+, 35 years old.

Pena bats left-handed, is a pretty good fielder, and the one-year contract doesn't handcuff the Cubs beyond the 2011 season. So if the team stinks (which they will) and he bounces back to his 2007-09 levels, he'll be a good trading chip. If he's no good, you can easily say good-bye to him at the end of the year and go after a bigger fish when you'll have more money to spend next offseason.

Kudos to you, Jim Hendry, and keep up the (relatively) good work!