"Jed Hoyer wouldn't have been allowed to leave the Padres and become general manager of the Chicago Cubs except for one thing:

Josh Byrnes was under contract to the Padres and ready to assume the reins of the ballclub upon Hoyer's departure.

Padres CEO Jeff Moorad confirmed Monday during the news conference to introduce Byrnes as the Padres' ninth general manager that he granted permission to the Cubs to talk to Hoyer and assistant GM Jason McLeod because Byrnes was waiting in the wings."