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Jon Heyman
Baseball Insider
Ten teams calls with job ideas for Maddon; Cubs seen as a favorite
The Cubs would seem to be the most logical landing spot for free agent manager Joe Maddon, but Maddon's agent Alan Nero said in a phone interview that about 10 teams have called with suggestions of jobs from manager to a "Tony La Russa style" top front-office position to various other roles.
Officially, the Cubs remained conspicuously silent on a second day about any possible interest in Maddon as manager, but other sources suggest they will be at least exploring an opportunity with one of baseball's best managers. Nero declined to name any teams in the mix, as there is technically only one managerial opening other than Tampa Bay's, that being the Twins, who didn't hurt their cause by waiting but are viewed as a long shot in any possible Madden derby.
It appears likely Maddon, who is viewed as one of the best for both clubhouse influence and strategy, will soon land a high-powered job, and a La Russa-like role would be interesting indeed. The Diamondbacks first created the position of chief baseball officer, above the GM, for the Hall of Fame manager. While working in baseball in 2015 seems to be the most probable outcome, several broadcast entities also have been in contact with Maddon, and it's possible he could take a year off (or some number of months) from a team job until a suitable position opened up.
"Joe is prepared not to manage [in 2015]," Nero told Chicago radio station WSCR. "If you remember when we got Lou Piniella out of his job, ironically with Tampa, he spent a year with the FOX network and he had a good year before he went on to ironically become the Cubs manager."
Maddon opted out of his Rays deal for a variety of reasons, not the least of which were his hope to be paid market value and his interest in exploring the market as a once-in-a-lifetime free agent. But he is also said by his friends to be intrigued by a chance to manage in the National League, which provides a greater opportunity for creativity and use of brainpower.
The Cubs haven't said a word about any possible interest in Maddon, though they are expected to be a big player in the free-agent market this winter, with an eye on competing next season after a small step forward to 73-89 and superb year of player development. Cubs president Theo Epstein interviewed Maddon for Red Sox manager in 2003 when he hired the more experienced Terry Francona, who won two World Series titles in Boston.
The Cubs haven't publicly expressed any unhappiness with first-year manager Rick Renteria, who was brought in to help the young players develop, and in fact have offered words of general praise about improvement he showed over his first year. But people around the game are convinced Chicago's North Side might be Maddon's best hope at this juncture. The Angels, Maddon's old team, plus the Dodgers, where his old Rays boss Andrew Friedman landed with a big new deal, have said they aren't changing managers, as have the Mets and Phillies.
Nero suggested he believed things would become clearer by the end of next week, after talks really got going. Maddon only opted out Friday, using the opt-out triggered by Friedman's departure, a clause that was suggested by Nero.
There's been some suggestion by unattributed people the Rays might consider a tampering claim, and while inappropriate contact goes on occasionally in baseball, it's hard to think Maddon would need to hear from anyone from the outside to know he was vastly underpaid. The reported $6 million for his three-year Rays deal that was to end after next year is said to have actually been slightly higher than the real amount, and with Maddon's old boss Mike Scioscia making an average of $5 million on his deal (and higher than that in coming years) and other managerial salaries much higher than Maddon's he wouldn't have needed anyone outside hints to know his contract wasn't for anywhere near market value.
On that score, while the Rays suggested they pursued an improved offer "diligently" and "aggressively," others suggest it was only aggressive by Tampa Bay standards perhaps, and never was anything to be seriously considered. Things were said to have gotten heated early in the process, unsurprising in cases where there is a vast different of opinion over value.
Maddon is about creativity more than money (as evidenced by the under-market contract he signed last time), and the loss of Friedman truly was a disappointment for Maddon, who is said to have appreciated the nine-year working relationship and especially Friedman's willingness to let him do his job, after providing input and information, of course.
Maddon is driving cross country from Tampa to his other home in Long Beach, Calif., in an RV with his wife, but Nero suggested he'd keep his home in Tampa, which also houses his various charities, including Thanksmas, events held between Thanksgiving and Christmas intended to help raise awareness for the homeless, and feed the homeless.
Topics: Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, MLB
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in 1964 when he pitched Short and Bunning every other day.