 |
| Madden will lead the Cubs next season. Photo Credit: Kim Klement/ USA Today Sports |
The Cubs have found their new manager in Joe Maddon, announcing his hire today.
By: Michael Hanley
Chicago has signed the former Tampa Bay Rays skipper to a five year contract that will take him and the Cubs through the 2019 season. The contract supposedly calls for him to be paid $5 million per year of this new deal which totals out to around $25 million. The Cubs were not specific in their announcement of his hire when it came to details of the new contract with Maddon.
Maddon, 60, has a career winning percentage of .517 (781-729) from his days as manager of the Rays for nine seasons. It also encompasses his stints as interim manager with the Angels in the years of 1996 and 1999. His resume includes success that was uncharted for the Rays organization before he arrived.
Under his watch, they won two division titles, made four playoff appearances, including winning the AL pennant in 2008, the first one in franchise history.
Joe Maddon is replacing the recently fired Rick Renteria who had a 73-89 record in his only year as cubs skipper. Maddon will have his work cutout for him as he faces a franchise that though has plenty of young talent that is continuing to steadily get better, still must turnaround what has been a losing culture within the organization.
This is a franchise that has not made the postseason since 2008 and has not been able to get out of its own way at times in the last few seasons. This will take time and patience for him to build those relationships with the players on the current roster, evaluate each player's skills and their role they can potentially fit into within the vision Maddon has for this team and how he wants them to play game in and game out.
He has the resume of being bale to get the most out of the players he has been dealt and be one of the best managers in the game when it comes to strategy. The young emerging talent that is currently on the roster for the Cubs and the top end prospects that are on their way to the big club, this group can certainly take a jump up in the NL Central standings next season. Now with Maddon at the controls, those chances will only go up in many people's eyes in baseball especially the players themselves.
Follow me on Twitter: @Magic20099
