Joe Maddon has left the Rays!

[DMBZeppelin]

Various national media saying Cubs may be the favorite (though currently they don't have an opening).

Teams like the Dodgers and Mets have come out saying they are sticking with their managers. Cubs meanwhile have remained quiet.

[Trendy Bastard]

Not gunna get my hopes up

[Tobywan]

Joel Sherman who claims to have talked to Maddon personally on the phone states that Maddon is looking for a five-year deal worth roughly $25M.

[realmofotalk]

Various national media saying Cubs may be the favorite (though currently they don't have an opening).

What various national media? All I see is speculation from the Chicago media and Joel Sherman and Jim Bowden running with the speculation so they can be the first to, "If Maddon wants the Cubs job, he should take it. My column:"

[realmofotalk]

Teams like the Dodgers and Mets have come out saying they are sticking with their managers. Cubs meanwhile have remained quiet.

Or perhaps he'll join Friedman in following the latest trend of being "promoted" to a newly created position like "Director of Field Operations" to be the de facto manager of the Dodgers, while Mattingly is the manager in name only.

[Tobywan]

i think I read somewhere one of the news heads saying perhaps he might become the GM for Friedman after the word was out that the Dodgers and Mets stated they were staying put at manager.

[Providence A's]

I guess he'd rather get out than go down with the ship like a captain is supposed to.

[realmofotalk]

i think I read somewhere one of the news heads saying perhaps he might become the GM for Friedman after the word was out that the Dodgers and Mets stated they were staying put at manager.

Friedman signed a $35 million contract so I seriously doubt they'll pony up $25 million more for his second in command.

[Tobywan]

I love Joe, but I'll be surprised if he gets $5 million a year anywhere. Although, crazy sometimes happens when it comes to sports money.

[DMBZeppelin]

What various national media? All I see is speculation from the Chicago media and Joel Sherman and Jim Bowden running with the speculation so they can be the first to, "If Maddon wants the Cubs job, he should take it. My column:"

Everyone from Onley to Heyman was saying Cubs.

Though if the media isn't good enough for you, his agent said the Cubs are on their radar.

[LJMets1989]

If I were Joe, I'd do a year of TV, and then post-2015 season, the Cubs are still in, Terry Collins' contract is up, Mattingly will be fired unless he suddenly figures out the playoffs, and who knows, maybe the Yankees/Angels/some other big market team is in. Waiting a year gives him the most teams bidding each other up.

[realmofotalk]

Mattingly will be fired unless he suddenly figures out the playoffs

If there ever was a moment for karma...

...who am I kidding? It'll be 2006 all over again. God clearly wants Dodgers fans to be more miserable than Mets fans.