The Chicago Cubs are looking to hire Joe Maddon, and they have reportedly been honest with their current manager about their intentions.
According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Cubs have informed manager Rick Renteria that they are exploring the possibility of hiring Maddon. Previous reports indicated that the Cubs have left Renteria in the dark about their ongoing discussions with Maddon, but Heyman said that is not the case.
[Related: Rays P Chris Archer takes shot at Joe Maddon]
Renteria, who has two years remaining on his current deal with the Cubs, is clearly the team’s backup plan at this point.
It is no secret that Cubs general manager Theo Epstein is a Maddon fan. Epstein interviewed him for the Boston Red Sox job in 2003 before hiring Terry Francona and would undoubtedly love to give Maddon an opportunity to rescue the Cubs. One rival GM told Heyman that he would be “shocked” if Maddon did not wind up in Chicago.
[Related: Jake Peavy, Jon Lester interested in Cubs]
The Cubs have missed the playoffs the last six seasons and have not won a playoff game since 2003.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that a decision regarding Maddon could come by Friday.
