According to Brian Hanley on the radio this morning (though we’re still waiting on confirmation from the Cubs), Chicago Cubs’ interim GM (and assistant GM) Randy Bush has been let go. He was signed at least through 2012, and will be given a severance package in lieu of returning to the team.
This kind of turnover was to be expected once the Cubs got Theo Epstein in place as President of Baseball Operations, and Jed Hoyer in place as General Manager.
Bush served as the team’s interim GM after Jim Hendry was fired in August, but Owner and Chairman Tom Ricketts was up front with Bush from the beginning that he would not be considered as a full-time replacement for Hendry. Bush had been with the Cubs since 2005, and had been an assistant GM since 2006.
Keep in mind, Bush may not have wanted to stay in Chicago with the organizational changes, and this may be an agreed-upon resolution, which will allow Bush to seek out employment in 2012, rather than languishing with the Cubs.
Hopefully some members of the Hendry regime remain in place – beyond Oneri Fleita and Tim Wilken (who’s spot is now precarious, with Jason McLeod effectively taking his job) – because, while we may not love everything Hendry was doing, institutional memory is important. You also risk “culture clash” if there is too much turnover too fast. I’m just thinking out loud.
UPDATE: Gordon Wittenmyer is disputing Brian Hanley’s report, and instead cites sources who say Bush is going to work for the Cubs in 2012.