Here’s the latest on Joe Maddon, whose agent Alan Nero (via a tweet from the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo) says is still “early in the process” of deciding what to do in 2015. Nero adds that taking a year off might be a possibility for Maddon.
- Joe Maddon exercising the out clause in his contract might have been the result of a deliberate strategy by the Rays, Cork Gaines of Rays Index speculates. Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeted yesterday that Maddon wasn’t even aware he had an opt-out clause until Rays president Matt Silverman told him. So why, Gaines wonders, did the Rays tell Maddon? With Andrew Friedman heading to the Dodgers, Maddon had lost a close friend. One possibility is that, with only one year left on his contract, it would have been a foregone conclusion that Maddon would leave after 2015 anyway, given the salary he might have sought. That would have made him a lame duck, and the Rays might have wanted a fresh start rather than continuing with a manager who they knew would be gone within months anyway.
- The Cubs need to hire Maddon as soon as possible, Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Triune writes. Maddon’s approach to the game is consistent with those of Theo Epstein and the Cubs, and his reputation as a player-friendly manager might help the Cubs attract free agents.
- One team Maddon will not be managing to open the 2015 season is the Phillies, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com writes. “We have a manager,” says GM Ruben Amaro Jr. “Ryne Sandberg is our manager.” Maddon is a Pennsylvania native, and he has connections to Amaro. Salisbury notes that there is the possibility that Amaro will be fired at some point in 2015, in which case Sandberg might be dismissed as well. If Maddon hasn’t found another team to manage at that time, he would likely become a contender for the Phillies position.
Not that I would expect Amaro to say otherwise with Sandberg under contract, but he would be nuts not to see if Maddon has any interest in joining the Phillies. Now if I was Maddon, Philadelphia would be at the bottom of my list to go to despite him being from PA.
Speaking of Gone. While Maddon might have been gone after 2015 anyway… The Person that should be gone, but isn’t is Amaro!
PS This sounds like sort of ill-conceived damage control or PR move by the Rays.
Well, something seems funny here…..
The Rays told Madden he had an out clause? His agent was negotiating an extension but the Rays had to inform him of what was in his contract?
Either that story stinks to high heaven, or Joe needs to find a competent agent that knows what’s in his contract.
I believe the opt out was a little more mutually agreed upon than what’s being reported. Tampa getsto move on without a lame duck manager… And Maddon gets to cash a check. Not sure there’d be any animosity.
I’m just wondering if breaking up the Tampa staff will end up being like post Beatles Lennon and McCartney.
Sorry…. this one does not make sense.
The Rays could have traded Maddon in the offseason for value if that was their plan.
No kidding. And the suggestion that Maddon didn’t know he had an opt-out is just ridiculous.
If the team alerted him to the opt out before his agent….he needs to hire the Tampa front office to represent him.
Any team acquiring Maddon would then have to deal with the same opt out clause.
I can see the Cubs signing Maddon and then signing Lester, Sheilds, and McCarthy
And then Price when he becomes a FA
2016 World Series champs!
I’d be surprised if they sign any of them.
I know Maddon is a great manager and all, but do you think he would take a bench coach job? The Pirates need someone to replace Banister, most of the manager positions are taken around the MLB, and Maddon is a Pennsylvania native. It’s definitely a long shot, but if he’d be a bench coach, I don’t think anyone in Pittsburgh would be opposed.
He left to chase the money, so I’m thinking he wouldn’t be interested.
I think he realized that the Rays are a dead end street!
I would suggest theres more chance of you, GrilledCheese39, taking the Pirates bench coach job than Joe Maddon.
I really think you’re overestimating grilled cheese’s shot at the bench job….of course the rumors will persist. 😉
Dodgers need a GM?
They just hired one. The guy who made Maddon, in fact.
Friedman’s title is not General Manager. Much like Theo in Chicago, the Dodgers will have a GM under Friedman.
I’m guessing that a sticking point with the Cubs might be how much autonomy Maddon would have with that front office in regards to handling his players and managing a game.
But Joe is a perfect fit for Cub fans. His routine couldn’t find a better audience. On his dress up day, the fans in the stands would be outdressing him and the players. It would be ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ for 81 games.
Why would you think that? I’ve never heard of anything being dictated from upper management to the field managers in Chicago, especially not anything as mundane as day-to-day management of the game.
Hiring a guy like Joe Maddon and then telling him how to manage makes zero sense. I can’t see anybody in the Cubs’ front office trying to do that.
The whole logic of Madden & Pirates would not make any sense because like NYM & Wally Blackman situation, if Pirates are losing, the fans would be calling for replacement with Madden taking over.. It would not a win/win situation for both parties