Cubs Cleared Of Tampering Charges In Joe Maddon Hiring
(CBS) The Cubs have been cleared of tampering in their hiring of manager Joe Maddon last November, Major League Baseball announced Wednesday. The charges were brought by the Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon's former employer.
The Cubs hired Maddon after he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with the Rays when executive Andrew Friedman left Tampa to run baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Rays contended that the Cubs prematurely had contract discussions with Maddon, but MLB didn't find that to be true.
The Cubs signed Maddon to a five-year, $25-million deal. They fired Rick Renteria with two years left on his contract to make room for Maddon.
If the Cubs had been found guilty of tampering, they could've been fined or lost draft picks.