Joe Maddon wants to remain with Rays
Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon says he wants to remain with the team, even after former executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman left the Rays to become the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations.
Maddon, whose contract expires at the end of next season, said he was happy for Friedman and tried to calm rumors that he was on his way to Los Angeles as well.
"I'm a Ray and I'm going to be with the Rays and I'm hoping to be with them for a long time," Maddon said, according to MLB.com. "There's nothing honestly to talk about. I have not been approached. I'm not going to anticipate being approached. I have another year of my contract. I'm sure that we're going to talk a little bit more. But this is not about me, this is about Andrew."
Next season will be Maddon’s 10th in Tampa. He had led the Rays to 90 victories in four straight seasons before the team fell to a 77-85 record in 2014.
In 11 years as a major league manager, Maddon has complied a 781-729 record. He has won two American League manager of the year awards and taken his teams to four playoff berths and one World Series appearance.
Maddon says that the team will move on, but complimented Friedman on the job he did while he was with the club.
"I'm still trying to process everything," Maddon said. "Today is more about Andrew and the great times together. How we started this. We actually got to the World Series together. We wanted to win it, but it didn't happen. But we did get there."
- Scooby Axson
