by Ken Rosenthal

In theory, the Cubs' GM should be secure — his team owns the best record in the National League and could win its first World Series since 1908.

After building the Cubs into a winner, Jim Hendry would be an attractive candidate for other clubs. (Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)

In reality, the franchise is for sale, Hendry is in the last year of his contract and an unusual provision in his deal only adds to the intrigue.

Hendry's contract gives him the option to return on a one-year deal in 2009, major-league sources say. The option is Hendry's, not the club's. He must decide whether to exercise it by the end of the year.

If the Cubs are sold before then, the new ownership can make a contract extension for Hendry one of its first priorities.

But if the sale drags into '09 — or if the new ownership waffles on Hendry — the Cubs could lose their GM.

Hendry, who joined the Cubs as farm director in Nov. 1994, wants to stay. He has proven he can succeed in a large market.

Still, with the possibility of several GM positions opening this offseason, Hendry would be foolish to return on a one-year deal under a new owner.

Chances are, a prospective ownership group would give Hendry assurances about his future before he must decide on his option, even if the sale were not official.

But if Hendry became a free agent, he could become a leading candidate for any number of clubs, including the Mariners, Nationals, Blue Jays and Giants.

In theory, his future should be secure.

In reality, both Hendry and the Cubs are in flux.

Cubs: The Mets' best friends?

Strange as it might sound, an early clinching by the Cubs could enhance the Mets' chances of winning the NL East.

The Mets and Phillies play each other for the final time this weekend.

After that, the Phillies' only remaining non-division opponent is the Brewers, whom they host for four games next week. The Mets' only remaining non-division opponent is the Cubs, whom they host for four in the next-to-last series of the season.

The Cubs, leading the Central by 4½ games, almost certainly would rest their regulars and alter their rotation if they clinched the division before making their final visit to Shea Stadium. Otherwise, they would need to keep pushing, giving the Mets more formidable competition.

The Astros: Team streak

Don't look now, but the Astros are only two games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central. I've been hard on the Astros — too hard, perhaps — but they remain far too inconsistent to warrant a full-blown apology. Consider the four stages of their season:

6-12

23-10

17-33

27-11

The Astros' minus-29 run differential indicates that their record should be more like 66-73 rather than 73-66. But the impressive thing about their latest run is their 15-7 record since losing left fielder Carlos Lee with a broken finger for 6 to 8 weeks. Players such as third baseman Ty Wigginton, outfielder Darin Erstad and infielders Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum have helped the team be greater than the sum of its parts

The pitching ranks only 10th in the National League in ERA, but the bullpen, in particular, has been better than expected — and every reliever but LaTroy Hawkins is under club control for next season.

The Astros' offseason goal will be to sign one premium starting pitcher (Ben Sheets?) and perhaps a bottom-of-the-rotation type (Randy Wolf redux?). The position players mostly are set; the Astros do not plan to give up on center fielder Michael Bourn, whose OPS is the lowest in the majors. Bourn, 25, was the principal return from the Phillies for closer Brad Lidge.

Third-base roulette

The trade market for third basemen could be especially active this offseason, in part because the free-agent market at the position is especially weak.

Hank Blalock might be trade bait if and when he moves back to third base. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

The Dodgers' Casey Blake and White Sox's Joe Crede are the only quality free agents. Blake will be coming off a fine year, but he's 35. Crede, 30, has spent significant time on the disabled list in each of the past two seasons.

The trade options at the position could include the Rockies' Garrett Atkins, who will be two years away from free agency, plus the Mariners' Adrian Beltre and Orioles' Melvin Mora, both of whom will be entering the final years of their contracts. Beltre has limited no-trade protection, Mora a full no-trade clause.

The Rangers' Hank Blalock is another possibility; the team could exercise his $6.2 million option for '09 with the intention of trading him. Blalock has played first base since returning from a shoulder injury, but is committed to an offseason throwing program with the goal of returning to third next season. He does not turn 28 until Nov. 21, and the Rangers could not ask for much more than a mid-level prospect or two in return.

All go to your rooms!

Some suggestions for each of the parties involved in the Pedro Alvarez mess:

For Alvarez's agent, Scott Boras: Stop adhering to the letter of the law and worrying about signing unenforceable contracts. Get Alvarez his life-changing $6 million, prove that you're not throwing a hissy fit over Buster Posey getting $200,000 more and pick a fight with Pirates club president Frank Coonelly on your own time.

For Coonelly: Stop playing with fire when confronted with deadlines and never, ever draft another Boras client. The two of you have proven, once and for all, that you can't play in the same sandbox.

For arbitrator Shyam Das: Uphold the Alvarez deal and the Royals' deal for Eric Hosmer, both of which were allegedly completed minutes after the Aug. 15 deadline. Neither was a major-league deal, and the players' union has no jurisdiction over minor-league contracts.

Finally, for Major League Baseball: Start enforcing — seriously enforcing — trade deadlines, signing deadlines and all other deadlines. The union has no choice but to file grievances when it believes the collective-bargaining agreement is being violated.

Around the horn

The Red Sox are planning a major push for Blue Jays right-hander A.J. Burnett, according to a rival executive. Burnett, 31, is almost certain to opt out of his contract and become a free agent at the end of the season. Since joining the Jays in 2006, he is 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA in six starts against the Red Sox. Yankees owner Hank Steinbrenner already has revealed his team's interest in both Burnett and CC Sabathia . . .

Rangers catcher Gerald Laird remains a strong candidate to be traded this winter. The Rangers, forever trying to improve their pitching, are enamored with Taylor Teagarden's receiving and game-calling. Teagarden, a right-handed hitter, intially could platoon with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a switch-hitter who is better from the left side. Max Ramirez, another catching prospect, could end up as a designated hitter and first baseman next season if the Rangers lose outfielder Milton Bradley as a free agent . . .

The ability of Marlins Class AA infielder Chris Coghlan to play both second and third base increases the Marlins' offseason options. Coghlan could take over at second if the Marlins trade Dan Uggla. Or, he could play third, enabling the Marlins to re-sign Jorge Cantu to play first and trade first baseman Mike Jacobs, who could fit nicely with an American League club. Marlins Class AA first baseman Gaby Sanchez was MVP of the Southern League. Class A first baseman Logan Morrison was MVP of the Florida State League.