Manager Joe Maddon’s signing with the Chicago Cubs isn’t sitting well with his former team.
The Cubs fired former manager Rick Renteria and hired Maddon on Friday, but the Tampa Bay Rays think there might have been some foul play involved in the deal.
Tampa Bay is considering filing tampering charges against Cubs general manager Theo Epstein, according to the Tampa Bay Times, because they believe Epstein convinced Maddon to opt out of his final contract year while he was still with the team. Maddon’s agent, Alan Nero, strongly denies any wrongdoing.
“Theo (Epstein) would not even have talked unless he got clearance from the commissioner’s office,” Nero told MLB Network Radio on Sunday. “It’s silly to suggest that (tampering), if they want to pursue that, that’s fine.
“In my world, if someone in your family has an opportunity to better themselves, you give them your blessing and move on,” Nero said. “This accusation of tampering is really sad and a bit insulting.”
Nero also mentioned that things would’ve been different if Tampa increased their offer.
“Our proposals were under market value,” Nero said. “Joe would have stayed if they had stepped up.”
Maddon was 754-705 as Rays manager, leading them to two American League East titles and a World Series appearance during his nine-year tenure.
Photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
