The Chicago Cubs are not planning to address Joe Maddon’s contract status until late next year.
Maddon is entering the final year of his contract as the Cubs’ manager and set to make $6 million in 2019. Managers typically don’t like to enter the final year of a contract without an extension in place, but Maddon and his agent appear to understand the circumstances.
Cubs president Theo Epstein told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Gordon Wittenmyer that he wants to see how 2019 goes before addressing the situation.
Theo on waiting until end of '19 to address Maddon/extension: "We’re not running away from Joe in the least but given that we all have things that we’re working on to get more out of this team and to be one game better than we were last year, this is the appropriate move. "
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) November 6, 2018
Epstein met recently with Maddon and agent Alan Nero to share decision.
Nero: "I think the issue really comes down to where the Cubs are going after next year. Those are going to be decisions that aren’t about Joe.”— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) November 6, 2018
Epstein called the 2019 season a “pivotal” one for the Cubs and said that they could be ready to make big changes if things don’t go well.
Theo says 2019 is big year for where team goes next/competitive window (for him, mgr player core): "I think we’re really talented. … It’s time to produce or else there’s a chance for significant change for the group. So that’s really where our focus is. … It’s a pivotal year."
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) November 6, 2018
If the Cubs have a great season next year, it seems like they would be inclined to retain their core players and leadership, such as Maddon. If things don’t go well enough, they might want to bring in a different manager. And if the season becomes a disaster, who knows how many changes they could make.
A previous report suggested there is occasionally a tense relationship between Maddon and Epstein. Despite that, they have teamed for great success the past four years. The team has won the NL Central twice, won their first World Series in over a century, and reached the playoffs all four years. However, losing in the NL Wild Card Game is not a satisfactory result for Epstein, which is why he is not committing to Maddon beyond next season.
