Tampa Bay Rays manager, Joe Maddon, has had some speculation and rumors about possibly leaving the team. Joe Maddon was able to come out and talk about what he wants for his future. After seeing the Vice President of the Rays, Andrew Friedman, go to the Los Angeles Dodgers there was talk about Maddon to follow. These rumors had Rays fans nervous about what could possibly come, but Joe Maddon ended all speculation that he would leave. His contract expires after the 2015 season.
Joe Maddon has been one of the best managers in the game since 2008, as he is a two time AL Manager of the year award winner. The Rays have been to the postseason five out of the last seven years since 2008. The 2014 and the 2009 seasons were the only two years the Rays did not make the postseason.
He took a young franchise that was not looking bright and turned them around to a contender. In that 2008 year, he took the Rays all the way to the World Series. In 2011, he did the unthinkable when the team made the playoffs on the final regular season game after being down nine games. That would be one of the best games in the MLB and is still revered to this day. Joe Maddon and his staff have dealt with a payroll of around $60 million and they have consistently found ways to win.
The thought was that Joe Maddon could take over a Los Angeles Dodgers team that has a payroll of more than 100 million of what the Rays are currently at. Also, Maddon owns a home in Southern California so it would be an easy transition for him. What Joe Maddon wants really is another long term deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Maddon ended the speculation saying, "I want to continue to be a Ray, absolutely. They have to want me to be a Ray too." Maddon also added, "I'm really embedded here pretty well. The roots are pretty strong. We have a great infrastructure here. We have a great operation. We have great people."
"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."