Joe Maddon Is The Cubs New Manager

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 29, 2014 10:30PM

Theo Epstein gets his man ... again. But is the third time the charm? CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reports the Cubs have reached a deal with former Tampa Bay Rays manager Maddon to manage the team. MLB Network insider and New York Post columnist Joel Sherman confirms Heyman's initial reports via Twitter.

The Cubs refuse to address the news in part because they don't want to overshadow Game 7 of the World Series tonight. Regardless, it's a hell of a coup for the Epstein, GM Jed Hoyer and the Cubs. Maddon is regarded as one of the best managers in Major League Baseball and his experience with a similar youth movement in Tampa Bay will serve him well for a Cubs team full of prospects looking to break through to the next level: sustained postseason success and World Series glory.

Sherman reports the Rays may file tampering charges against the Cubs, considering how quickly this deal fell into place and the fact Maddon opted out of his contract only a couple weeks ago. Current Cubs manager Rick Renteria has been made aware of the negotiations and will almost certainly be paid the remainder of his contract.