Tampa Paper Picks Cubs As Maddon Destination

ST. PETERSBURG — It didn’t take long for the rumors of Joe Maddon to the Cubs to reach a boil.

Cubs fans woke Saturday to Maddon’s picture covering the front of the Chicago Sun-Times and a headline that said Maddon “sets his sights on the Cubs.” Meanwhile, columnists at both of the city’s papers called for the Cubs to pull the trigger and hire Maddon.

The move makes sense, even if it means the Cubs will have to fire or reassign managerRick Renteria, who is under contract through 2017.

Renteria, hired before last season, drew criticism for the way he handled the roster, and his in-game moves often were questioned.

Maddon is praised from coast-to-coast for his in-game moves and the way he handles his roster.

Maddon never hid his love for the National League style of play. He fawned all over Wrigley Field during the Rays’ three-game series there in August. He even talked of how the ground rules governing the park’s walls should be tweaked.

Maddon is never one to shy from the spotlight, and life in the big city would appear to suit him just fine.

The Cubs have a handful of young, talented players either at the major-league level or ready to join the parent club, and they have money to add quality free agents to the roster.

And then there is the challenge of guiding the Cubs to their first World Series appearance since 1945 and first world championship since 1908.

You think beating the Yankees and Red Sox for the AL East title was a big deal? Take the Cubs to the Fall Classic and, oh boy. Win it all and they might build a skyscraper in Chicago and name it after Maddon.

Cubs president Theo Epstein is familiar with Maddon and Maddon’s body of work.

As GM of the Red Sox, Epstein interviewed Maddon after the 2003 season before hiringTerry Francona.

As GM and executive vice president of the Red Sox, Epstein watched Maddon and the Rays eliminate the defending World Series champion Red Sox during the 2008 AL championship series, then watched Maddon and the Rays chase down the Red Sox in September 2011 for the AL wild card.

There is even speculation that the Rays think the Cubs contacted Maddon before he opted out of his contract. Rays president of baseball operations Matt Silverman declined to comment on that matter.

Leaving Tampa Bay, where winning 90 games and reaching the postseason were considered huge accomplishments given the organization’s limited resources, for Chicago, where anything less than a trip to the World Series is considered a bust given the team’s resources, could prove for some uncomfortable moments for Maddon. Yet, Maddon always talked about how leaving your comfort zone was the only way to really meet a challenge.

In February 2006, Maddon stood in front of his first Devil Rays team and told them he believed they could win the World Series that fall. Some players thought he was nuts, while others came alive at hearing such confidence from a Tampa Bay manager.

It’s not hard to imagine that scene taking place in Arizona in February as the Cubs assemble for their first full squad workout of the year.