As we begin to digest Joe Maddon’s departure from the Rays, interest will begin to focus on what’s next for the now-former manager. We at MLBTR have diligently collected quite a volume of information and reactions to Maddon’s decision. If you’re lacking any detail from yesterday’s surprise announcement, you’ll probably find it there.
We know that Maddon reportedly seeks a five-year, $25MM contract. And as we learned earlier tonight, the move may have been mutually beneficial for Maddon and the Rays. Maddon would have been a lame duck manager with his contract set to expire after the season and little hope for an extension. Now the Rays can get a head start on finding their next manager.
The Twins are the only club with a current opening at manager, and they appear to have narrowed the search to their three finalists. Minnesota GM Terry Ryan will reportedly do his due diligence, but it’s worth noting they have never paid a manager an annual rate above $2MM.
The Cubs are a much rumored destination due to supposed similarities between Maddon and Cubs president Theo Epstein. However, second year manager Rick Renteria led the club to 73 wins while overseeing a few breakout performances. He also handled a potentially fractious bullpen with aplomb. Low expectations helped Renteria form a good impression, but Chicago already appears to be in excellent hands.
Other managers on the hot seat like Ryne Sandberg, Terry Collins, and Fredi Gonzalez have all received votes of confidence since Maddon hit the open market. While that doesn’t necessarily mean anything, it would be a bold move to fire a manager who was considered secure (for now) as of just a few days ago. Another NL East club that might make sense – the Nationals – just reached the playoffs in Matt Williams first season with the club.
Of course, the question as posed does not exclude a mid-season job offer for Maddon, so let’s make that a separate option.
Theo and Jed have come out and boldly proclaimed that the Cubs will compete for the NL Central title next year. If they see Joe Maddon as being they guy to take the club to the next level, I think they do what it takes to make it happen.
I’m sure they will. They have plenty of work to do to compete though.
You’re right about the Cubs doing what they will to compete and they do have a lot of work to do.
They have a farm system like the Royals farms system was 2 years ago before they went to the World Series this year. The difference with the Cubs will be the financial resources to add free agents and keep the young players around.
The Cubs will be very dangerous in 2-3 years and Maddon will be a great addition moving forward.
Maddon and/or Frieds either has information we do not about the state of the future of the Rays franchise, or they can be bought. If that’s the case, thanks for everything Joe, but if $3MM isn’t enough for your “family,” then maybe you should think about budgeting your money. Let the team call me, I’ll manage for $3MM a year.
Sure 3M could be enough for his family, but you know what’s nicer for your family? 4,5,6, even 7M. Are we really going to hold it against him to get as much as he can? Players do it and talk about their team as family. Why can’t he to?
Maybe if the Rays fans actually supported the team then they could afford to pay Maddon his market value.
I went to Tropicana Field on a baseball tour of East Coast baseball stadiums last year, and that place is awful. I would never go to another game there. I don’t blame those fans for not going to games, it isn’t a good experience. At all.
I can’t even watch it on TV. Domes are so much of an eye sore and the turf doesn’t help the looks. Teams should be required to have natural grass. The Trop is a failure on every level.
“Job suggestions have varied from manager to something like the Chief Baseball Officer position occupied by Tony La Russa.”
I wrote yesterday that I thought Madden was more qualified to run a Baseball Ops department then half the people doing it today. I’d understand if he’d want to manage, but I think he’ll have other opportunities.
Man, always wanted him as sox mgr. Farell not to shabby tho. Would like to see joe in ATL.
JM is a great baseball manager who has ‘it’ – he knows the vicissitudes of baseball, understands the psyches of not only million dollar players, but umpires as well, and is also able to speak with simplicity but fluidity when addressing the public, offering the greatest opportunity for any team which has been out of the post-season more than any other team in baseball