Joe Maddon surprised many people when he opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. The decision was especially surprising because Maddon said two weeks ago after executive Andrew Friedman left for the Dodgers that he wanted to continue to be a Ray.
There are no guarantees that Maddon will manage next season, but the longtime manager wants to explore his options. That reality has left some Rays players disappointed, including pitcher Chris Archer, who had this to say on Twitter:
You're only as faithful as your options.
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher42) October 24, 2014
That comes across as someone who’s more than a little bitter over the move.
After tweeting his jab at Maddon, he then sent a compliment about the manager and former team GM:
I was spoiled to have Joe and Andrew help navigate the early stages of my career. I sincerely hope their new opportunities serve them well.
— Chris Archer (@ChrisArcher42) October 24, 2014
Archer is a young guy. He’s only 26 and has spent just three seasons in the bigs, and he had a good manager. It’s understandable why he would be disappointed about losing Maddon. The business of the game is a harsh one and, especially in the case of the cash-strapped Rays, you have to learn that there is very little loyalty. Archer is just getting a taste of that.
Nobody should begrudge Maddon exploring his options. He probably wanted to remain with the Rays, but there are a lot of changes there and apparently the two sides could not agree on financial terms. He’s a good manager who has earned the right to see what’s out there. Why not do so?
