The Cubs "made things official" yesterday, naming Joe Maddon their 54th manager and signing him to a five-year contract worth a reported $25M, according to Bruce Miles of the Chicago DAILY HERALD. It has been an "awkward 10 days for the Cubs and Maddon," who opted out of his '15 contract with the Rays on Oct. 24. Amid speculation the Cubs would "hire Maddon, they fired manager Rick Renteria after Renteria spent only one year on the job." The hiring of Maddon "gives the Cubs their first big-name manager since Lou Piniella ['07-10], and it comes at a time" when President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein's "massive rebuilding project is showing signs of bearing fruit." Epstein said, "We didn't hire him because he's a big-ticket manager. We hired him because he's Maddon." Epstein and Cubs GM Jed Hoyer "began a whirlwind courtship with Maddon right after he became a managerial free agent" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/4). In Chicago, Mark Gonzales notes Maddon "opted out of his contract" after managing the Rays for nine seasons, compiling a record of 754-705 with four playoff appearances, two AL East titles and a berth in the '08 World Series. As Wrigley Field construction "continued across the street, Maddon called the ballpark a 'treasure' and talked about helping to develop the team's many young prospects" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/4). Maddon said, "Why would you not want to accept this challenge? In this city? In that ballpark? Under these circumstances, with this talent? It's an extraordinary moment, not just in Cubs history, but in baseball. This confluence of all these items coming together is pretty impressive" (ESPNCHICAGO.com, 11/3).
PLAYING BY THE RULES: The DAILY HERALD's Miles notes Epstein also "vehemently stated that the Cubs did not illegally tamper with Maddon" while he was under contract with the Rays. Epstein said, "It's just totally inaccurate. There's nothing to it. If we keep seeing stuff in print, then we're going to respond at some point. For now, we'll take it day by day, but there was absolutely no tampering whatsoever." Miles notes when news broke of Maddon opting out as manager of the Rays, speculation "began immediately that Maddon and the Cubs would be a good fit." Epstein has "maintained the Cubs did not act on Maddon until they found out" from MLB that Maddon was a free agent. Meanwhile, Epstein "praised the work" Renteria did in his one year with the team. Epstein: "He handled it like a prince of a man. It was a painful week. It was a really painful week. As a person, I didn't want to do it. I don't want to ever be unfair to someone else. As an executive and someone charged with winning a World Series here, I had no choice but to do it. It was clearly the right move for the Cubs" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/4). In N.Y., Ben Strauss notes Maddon also "expressed remorse" about Renteria. But Maddon said that he "had been concerned only about his own contract negotiations -- first with the Rays and then with the Cubs." Maddon: “All I did was exercise the right within my contract. It wasn’t my responsibility to gauge how other organizations ran their organizations" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/4). Maddon's agent, Alan Nero of Octagon, said, "This was completely unexpected. When I negotiated Joe's contract and put the 'out' clause in it, he really never anticipated it being effective. It's kind of easy to agree to something that you never think is going to happen. So it is kind of the way it was. It was an add-on to the contract. So when [former GM Andrew Friedman] left, which we didn't expect, all of a sudden there was a dilemma." Maddon said that he was "prepared to pursue other options in broadcasting or the front office before Nero explained all of his options" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/4).
RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB: In Chicago, David Haugh writes Maddon's "energy and optimism make him the right manager at the right time for a young team defining how to win." Maddon yesterday "exuded confidence and curiosity; balancing bold talk with common sense." Maddon "connected with Chicago in his first impression" like Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo "connecting on a batting-practice fastball." This "wasn't just winning the news conference," this was "sweeping the series with three shutouts." Maddon "could have been dull and businesslike and the Cubs still could have claimed he was worth" the contract "based on baseball credentials alone." But Maddon's "dynamic personality underscored what an ideal hire he is for a team full of highly touted prospects facing high expectations" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/4). Also in Chicago, Scot Gregor notes Maddon "ended the press gathering by offering to buy the first round of drinks." Gregor: "If you think this was a one-act show, stay tuned for even more good times once Maddon gets to work in the Cubs' dugout and clubhouse" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/4). CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney said, "It feels like the buzz is back in Chicago, and Joe Maddon is probably the first piece in what the Cubs thought would be an extremely busy offseason" ("MLB Now," MLB Network, 11/3). The DAILY HERALD's Mike Imrem writes Maddon "has a pulse, a personality, a presence" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 11/4). The CHICAGO SUN-TIMES' Rick Morrissey writes after "listening to the guy, you’d consider running through an ivied brick wall for him" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 11/4).
