Report: Joe Maddon reaches deal with Chicago Cubs to be manager

Former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon has reached a deal with the Chicago Cubs to be the team's next manager, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports. Joel Sherman of

Former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon has reached a deal with the Chicago Cubs to be the team's next manager, CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports. Joel Sherman of the New York Postlater confirmed the report.

Maddon's agent denied that the two sides have agreed to a deal.

“It’s not a done deal by far,” Alan Nero, Maddon’s Chicago-based agent, told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We continue in good faith to discuss this with several teams, including the Cubs. We hope something will be resolved quickly.”​

Multiplereports from Cubs beat writers have said the deal is not done, and an announcement is not expected until after the World Series. Game 7 is Wednesday night.

Maddon reportedly has been in talks with the Cubs since opting out of his contract with the Rays last week. He would replace Rick Renteria, who has two seasons left on his three-year contract. Cubs president Theo Epstein said in September that Renteria would return in 2015. The Cubs have not announced Renteria is being let go.

Under Renteria, Chicago finished the season in last place in the NL Central with a record of 73-89.

In nine seasons with the Rays, Maddon led the team to the postseason four times, including a World Series appearance in 2008. His departure came a week after Rays vice president Andrew Friedman left to become the Los Angeles Dodgers’ new president of baseball operations.

Despite comments that he wished to continue to be a Ray, Maddon exercised an opt-out clause in his contract to become a managerial free agent.

“I just hope [the Rays] will understand that this was a unique opportunity for me and my family, and beyond that, the charities that I’m attached to,” Maddon told MLB.com’s Bill Chastain. “There was nothing else that I was looking for before that. Up until (general manager) Andrew (Friedman) left, I did not have this kind of opportunity whatsoever. And then once Andrew left and this opportunity opened up, I had to consider it.”

- Danielle Zhu