Joe Maddon says he’s not looking to follow Andrew Friedman to Los Angeles
Before the news that Andrew Friedman was leaving his post as executive vice president and general manager with the Tampa Bay Rays to become team president of the Los Angeles Dodgers could even settle in on Tuesday, speculation was already running wild over what this might mean for current Rays manager Joe Maddon.
Maddon, who’s widely regarded as one of the game’s top skippers and smartest baseball minds, has worked along side Friedman for the past nine years. Together, they’ve done a job no one person could do alone. Together, they’ve help piece together and guide the small-market Rays to the postseason four times, including a World Series appearance in 2008, without ever having to truly rebuild along the way.
It’s a relationship that’s led to sustained success in a market and division not built for it. Not with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays all able to outspend them three, sometimes four times over. With that against-the-odds success in mind, it’s only natural to put two and two together and assume Friedman would at least explore the possibility of continuing that relationship in a situation far more conducive to short and long term success. But based on Maddon’s comments on Tuesday, we shouldn’t look for that to happen any time soon.
However, Maddon said Tuesday that he expects to discuss a contract extension with the Rays this winter.
“I want to continue to be a Ray, absolutely,” Maddon said. “They have to want me to be a Ray too.”
Maddon said he and his wife recently moved into a Tampa home once owned by former USC and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coach John McKay.
“I’m really embedded here pretty well,” he said. “The roots are pretty strong. We have a great infrastructure here. We have a great operation. We have great people.
Maddon’s contract, which is set to expire following the 2015 season, obviously complicates things. At this point, if Friedman wanted him he’d have to seek permission to speak with Maddon from replacement Matt Silverman and likely put together a compensation package to complete an agreement. Seeing as both sides are going through a transition period, it might take awhile for that to be sorted out anyway, leaving Friedman in a position where retaining Don Mattingly might make the most sense regardless of future possibilities.
And yes, that’s also a factor here. Mattingly is under contract to the Dodgers through the 2016 season, so Friedman can use 2015 as an evaluation period. If it goes well, there may be no need to make a switch. if not, then he can take a good look at his options.
At the end of the day, though, this could all come down to what Maddon wants, or more likely how much he perceives the Rays want him.
“There’s so much to like. There’s only one negative. That’s the ballpark. It’s a big negative. But that’s about it.”
That was a not-so-hint about the stadium, but it’s anybody’s guess if that would be a game-changer in a possible decision. Only Joe Maddon knows for sure, though it sounds like the rest of us should have a pretty good idea what he’s thinking by the time the Rays report to spring training.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
