Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon Opts Out
- Updated: October 24, 2014
According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon has opted out of contract and will leave the team immediately.
Sources: Manager Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and is leaving the Tampa Bay Rays immediately.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 24, 2014
The Rays had a disappointing season. They won less than 90 games for the first time since 2009 according to ESPN.com
Tampa Bay Rays management released this statement via their website, rays.mlb.com.
“Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his current contract, a contract which was not scheduled to expire until after the 2015 season,” principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement issued by the club. “We tried diligently and aggressively to sign Joe to a third contract extension prior to his decision. As of yesterday afternoon, Joe enabled himself to explore opportunities throughout Major League Baseball. He will not be managing the Rays in 2015. Joe has been our manager for nine seasons, and the foundation of success laid during his tenure endures. We thank him for all that he’s meant to the organization.”
Joe Maddon has been a manager in the big leagues for 11 years now as he had spent the last nine in Tampa. The rumors will really begin to swirl now that Maddon is available for the Dodgers.
Speculation had already began that the Dodgers would approach Maddon after next season but with him opting out he could be on his way to LA. Andrew Friedman has previously stated that he intended to keep Don Mattingly for next season but that may be up in the air.
Earlier today ESPN reported that Andrew Friedman contract was a 5-year 35 million dollar deal. He’s getting the big bucks to make the big decisions. Is this the end of the Don Mattingly era in LA?
Our own Tyler Hawk wrote about the Dodgers coaching staff earlier in the week. Click here to check it out.
What do you Dodgers fans think? Is Joe Maddon on his way to LA?
Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things Los Angeles Dodgers and the rest of the LA sports teams!
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