Let the Joe Maddon Derby begin – the Tampa Bay Rays manager has opted out of his contract with the club, rending him a managerial free agent.
Here's what Principal Owner Stuart Sternberg had to say regarding Joe Maddon's departure from the #Rays: pic.twitter.com/klaNMgX4w0
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 24, 2014
This wasn’t really unexpected, as rumors of Maddon’s resignation as Rays manager have been swirling since the departure of Andrew Friedman. Maddon skillfully waited until the Diamondbacks, Rangers, and Astros all hired new managers to make his move, and the only team left with a vacancy (aside from the Rays, of course) is the Minnesota Twins.
Maddon’s future career path is intriguing. Will Friedman dial back his support of Don Mattingly in Los Angeles, relieve him of his duties, and hire Maddon? Will Maddon sit out a year, take a TV job, and await the opportunity to pounce on a more desirable job next offseason? Will another team fire their current manager to hire Maddon?
Meanwhile, what about the Rays? Where do they go in the post-Joe Maddon era? Could bench coach Dave Martinez simply get the promotion?
The offseason just got VERY interesting.
