Levine: Maddon's Sudden Availability Could Trump Renteria's Solid Job For Cubs
By Bruce Levine-
(CBS) -- The news of Joe Maddon ending his tenure at Tampa hit the baseball world like a storm Friday morning.
Maddon, who had an opt-out clause in his contract, decided to walk away from a city and managerial job he had for nine years. Speculation began instantly about possible landing places for the highly respected Maddon.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports talked to the former Rays manager directly about the Chicago Cubs managing position now held by Rick Renteria.
"I don't know," Maddon told Rosenthal. "I have to talk to a lot of people. I have interest everywhere right now. I have to hear what everyone has to say."
Did Maddon mean people have already contacted him? Or that he wants to talk to numerous organizations that he would be interested in? Either way, expect numerous teams to kick the tires on the chance of bringing in a manger who's considered a difference-maker in the baseball arena.
Renteria did a fine job of holding a youthful group of up-and-coming players together last season that surpassed expectations by winning 31 of the last 59 games. Renteria's team did this despite having traded two-fifths of its starting rotation on July 4 (Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel). The Cubs had two winning months for the first time since 2009.
All of the positives about Renteria won't end the speculation that if Maddon is available, the Cubs must at least take a good, hard look. He'll be pursued likewise in many cities.
Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer interviewed Maddon for the Red Sox manager's job in the fall of 2003 before they chose Terry Francona. He finished a close second to Francona, and the future Cubs executives came away extremely impressed with Maddon (the Red Sox won the World Series the following year for the first time in 86 seasons).
Maddon told a close friend that Chicago was a fantastic city and if he ever had a chance to manage after Tampa Bay, this would be an awesome town to win in. Most of the top managers in the game are making between $3 million and $4 million per season right now. A five-year, $20-million contract wouldn't be out of line if a big market comes calling for Maddon's services.
The former Rays manager worked with small-market, under-financed clubs and showed a keen ability to teach and lead players to finishes above expectations on most occasions. He won 90-plus games five times in his nine seasons in Tampa. His 2008 team made it as far as the World Series, losing to Philadelphia that year.
Maddon is represented by well-respected agent Alan Nero of Northbrook, Ill. Nero was one of the first agents ever to explore having representation for managers 20 years ago.
Maddon said he hopes to work in some baseball job in 2015.
"If the right opportunity does not present itself, I would want to work, but I hope it would be a managing position," he told Rosenthal.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.