The future of Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon looks murky.
Maddon will enter the final season of his four-year deal with the Cubs in 2019, and according to MLB.com’s Jon Morosi, there are currently no plans to try to extend his contract. Maddon hasn’t asked to open talks either, though there is no indication yet that he’ll depart before the end of his deal.
#Cubs likely to hold standard year-end news conference later today. Joe Maddon’s contract is not expected to be extended beyond 2019, at least at this point in time. (Notably, Maddon’s camp has not requested an extension recently, either.) @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 3, 2018
Joe Maddon is due to earn $6 million next year, as @Ken_Rosenthal reported earlier today. He is the highest-paid manager in @MLB. There is no indication — yet — that #Angels will request permission to interview Maddon, who has long-standing ties there. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 3, 2018
Furthermore, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that industry chatter has centered on an occasionally tense relationship between Maddon and Cubs president Theo Epstein. Whether this is abnormal or simply the result of typical friction within a ballclub is unclear.
What is clear is that there is obvious doubt about whether Maddon will remain with Chicago beyond 2019. He seems to retain the support of his players, but the mixture of his high salary and the perceived step back the Cubs took in 2018 could both be factors.
