Cubs rumored to land next-level manager in Joe Maddon

Rumors are swirling that the Chicago Cubs are close to inking a deal to bring now-former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon in to lead the team. ...
The signing of Joe Maddon was the beginning of a busy offseason for the Cubs Photo/Wikimedia

[dropcap]C[/dropcap]hicago Cub fans were already excited the day after the 2014 season concluded when Theo Epstein proclaimed the Cubs were on a mission to win the central division next season.

Theo explained that he would acquire top tier pitching and a veteran position player to go along with his riches of youthful talent. For us die-hard Cub fans, that was simply enough and more than we are accustomed to hearing after so many years of “wait til next year”.

Next year seemed like it was finally on its way. With no mention of a new manager to thrust the Cubs to the next level, it appeared as though Rick Renteria would finish his final two years of his three year contract while the young Cubs grew up. His one year of patient handling of the Cub youth oversaw Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro return to form after underperforming in 2013. Until a couple minor moves involving the 40 man roster broke over the last week, we’d heard nothing since then from Theo as the playoffs and World Series commenced.

Sources speculate that the Chicago Cubs are close to inking a deal to bring in Joe Maddon as the club's new manager. Photo/Wikimedia

Sources speculate that the Chicago Cubs are close to inking a deal to bring in Joe Maddon as the club’s new manager. Photo/Wikimedia

Then the news broke that Joe Maddon used an opt-out clause that he discovered during contract negotiations with the Tampa Bay Rays to pursue a larger contract as well as test his worth on the open market for the first time since becoming a head manager.

The Rays were not willing to commit the years or annual average that Maddon was looking for (Maddon was reportedly seeking a five-year deal worth $5 million annually).

Immediately, the media and Cub fans were all over this. Although the Cubs were not in the market for a new manager, the opportunity to acquire a next-level type manager, albeit two years earlier than expected, was too good to pass up.

Theories began to swirl that the Cubs tampered with Maddon during the negotiation process. That remains to be seen, and we will most certainly hear about that in the coming months if that’s the case. As of now, the Cubs appear to have signed a next level manager and one that will enjoy the growing process as he did in his years with the Rays.

What you need to know

The Joe Maddon file: Maddon started his managerial career with the Angels, serving mostly as a minor league coach. In 1996 and 1999 as a member of the Angels coaching staff, Maddon finished the season as the interim coach, sandwiching the stint of Terry Collins. He spent over 30 years with the Angels and was eventually interviewed for the head manager opening in Boston in 2004.

Terry Francona eventually landed that job and Maddon was hired by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in November of 2005. Maddon took over for Lou Piniella who had just completed a 67-95 season. The Rays team that Maddon acquired looked very much like this year’s Cubs team with a very young core. Maddon inherited 23-year old Carl Crawford, 21-year old BJ Upton, 24-year old James Shields and 21-year old Scott Kazmir. Those were just a few of the young players that grew up under the tutelage of Maddon.

He eventually took the Rays from a 61 win team in his inaugural season, to a 97 win team in his 3rd season as their manager. Maddon coached the Rays from 2006 until last Thursday, winning Manager of the year in 2008 and 2011 while picking up 782 victories in 1510 contests, good for a .517 winning pct.

Maddon takes over a team that is expected to be much better than the 73-89 record they posted in 2014 with the pedigree to push the team into contention.

Chicago is a very large market and presents Maddon with the financial flexibility that he never saw in Tampa. With the Cubs, Maddon will be able to not only influence young prospects as he was forced to do annually in Tampa, but he will also manage big money veterans that the Cubs acquire. Maddon will reunite with Edwin Jackson, who made his professional debut in Maddon’s first year in Tampa.

Rick Renteria has two years remaining on his contract. The Cubs will most likely offer Renteria another position within the organization. Renteria will most likely decline the offer, take a buyout and land on his feet as a bench coach with another team until his name is called again to lead a squad. Renteria has a good reputation in the major leagues and it is likely that he gets another chance as a head manager in the near future.

Maddon is reportedly negotiating a deal that will pay him $25 million over five years. Any Cub signing would be huge news, so expect this announcement to come in the next day or so.

Now that the Cubs have figured out their long term manager, look for the next news out of Wrigley to be the major signings that Theo has already prepared us for.

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