Tampa Bay is resisting Joe Maddon's departure with resolve

Joe Maddon Leaves Tampa Bay Rays for Chicago Cubs

In a surprising move that has captured the attention of the major league baseball community, Joe Maddon, the longest tenured skipper in Tampa Bay Rays' franchise history, has left the team to become the new manager of the Chicago Cubs.

Maddon, who led the Rays to an American League pennant in 2008 and to the postseason in three other Octobers, had an opt-out clause in his contract which was set to end in 2015. Rumors about his departure for the Cubs began before he announced his leaving the Rays.

The Chicago Cubs' front office claimed it offered Maddon a deal that would have made him a top-paid manager. However, Maddon's agent, Alan Nero, denied this claim on MLB Network Radio. Nero stated that Maddon was willing to stay with the Rays at an under-market value, but the team refused to pay up.

The Cubs have young talent such as infielder Javier Baez, outfielder Jorge Soler, right-hander Kyle Hendricks, and second baseman Arismendy Alcantara. Taking over the Chicago Cubs, a team with a lot of young talent, will be a bigger challenge for Maddon compared to the Tampa Bay Rays, given Chicago's larger stage.

The tampering allegation is that the Cubs improperly convinced Maddon to leave the Rays before he could officially opt-out of his existing contract. If proven, this could have significant implications for the Cubs and Major League Baseball. The Tampa Bay Rays have threatened a tampering charge against the Cubs' front office.

Maddon is expected to earn approximately $25 million over five years with the Chicago Cubs. His first press conference with the team took place on Monday, where he offered to buy the room a round of drinks.

Maddon's departure from the Tampa Bay Rays comes shortly after their longtime General Manager, Andrew Friedman, left the franchise to become the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations.

There is no information available about Alan Nero as Maddon's agent in the provided search results. In 2015, Maddon made $1.85 million with the Tampa Bay Rays.

This move marks a new chapter in Maddon's career, as he looks to bring his successful management style to the Windy City and help the Cubs break their World Series drought, which dates back to 1908.