Now that the Chicago Cubs are officially in the post-Joe Maddon era, and we have discussed potential replacements here, it begs the question – where will Joe land? As Theo Epstein mentioned in Maddon’s and Epstein’s press conference, it will be very good to be Joe Maddon this offseason as several teams will have great interest.
First, we have to discuss what teams will have openings this offseason (or potentially have openings). We already know that the Pittsburgh Pirates job is open. The San Diego Padres fired Andy Green. Bruce Bochy has officially left the San Francisco Giants as he felt it was time. The New York Mets Mickey Callaway and the Philadelphia Phillies Gabe Kapler are reportedly on the hot seat. Ned Yost of Kansas City has walked away.
There could be some more openings as well. The Chicago White Sox could decide to make a move, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, maybe the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles.
Of those 11 teams, not all of them are fits for Maddon. So, we likely need to look a little closer at the jobs that best fit his skills or interests as well.
Ok, first off. We can eliminate the Pirates job. With all the back and forth and the beanball wars that have happened between the Cubs and the Clint Hurdle ran Pirates probably makes that a difficult job for Joe to take. Likewise, it is potentially a very difficult interview for Pittsburgh to even ask.
I do not see the Mets having the money it would take to hire Maddon. Let’s face it, he was already the highest-paid manager in baseball, and in an offseason where he will likely have a number of jobs to choose from, the Mets won’t be able to stay in the bidding war.
This goes double for the Royals. While the roster is something that is almost reminiscent of the Tampa Bay Rays job. A young roster, not much money to go around, build guys up to trade them. He is the type that could get more out of a young roster, but I don’t believe the Royals think they’re a Joe Maddon away from competing.
Seattle is interesting. They are not afraid of spending money in Seattle, they also have a decent blend of young and veteran players. This is an interesting team and potentially could have a genuine interest in Maddon. The question I have with this organization is, the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics are definitely better than the Mariners. While Maddon could help then surpass the likes of the Los Angeles Angels or Texas Rangers, or maybe even the A’s, I don’t see them leapfrogging the Astros just yet.
I don’t believe the Orioles or the Tigers are making a move just yet. They both knew what kind of club they would be, and they are several years and a half decade’s worth of players away from competing.
So, here are the real contenders for Maddon’s services.
Chicago White Sox
Wouldn’t this just be rubbing salt in an old wound? Rick Renteria had a fine 2014 with the Cubs, and at the end of that season, he had the club playing exceptional baseball for him. With a roster that was starting to come around, several good young players already performing, and several more on the way – Renteria was about to be rewarded.
Instead, he was fired and the Cubs hired Joe Maddon.
The same can be said about the 2019 White Sox. There were times in which this club looked good and played good baseball. Then the younger talent was starting to fill out. Guys like Lucas Giolito, Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, and Dylan Cease and Yoan Moncada are starting to get it. With guys like Luis Robert and Michael Kopech headlining the next couple to come up, this will be a brilliant core of young talent.
Enter Joe Maddon. He has the perfect skill set to bring this type of club to newer heights, quickly. Can Maddon break Renteria’s heart twice?
San Francisco Giants
The National League West is a very difficult division to be in. The Los Angeles Dodgers are clearly the best in that division, and it seems that every year one of the Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, or Colorado Rockies jump up into that second position.
The one area that concerns me is, this is an older roster. While there are several guys that are leaving, or will be, and there are only two players in the top 50 prospects. With a farm system that is ranked in the middle of baseball, reserves aren’t exactly readily available.
The Giants aren’t usually that big-spending organization either. Sure they have gotten involved in some free agent bids, one such bidding war was for Jon Lester. But, I don’t know if you can count of free agency to rebuild rosters any longer. That’s just not what this age of roster management is about.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies seem to be another perfect fit for Maddon. A very good young core, with a sprinkling of veteran players. He would have a familiar, bearded face in Jake Arrieta, and Bryce Harper has been very fond of Maddon as well.
The Phillies aren’t afraid of spending money, and adding Maddon to the mix would help attract other free agents as well. I did just say that rosters aren’t really built through free agency, but the Phillies have a core of great young players that another couple free agents could compliment very well.
I can definitely see this as a fit. They have the money that Maddon would command. They have the young roster, sprinkled with some talented veterans. They need someone like Joe that could help get them over the hump. Let’s face it, The Atlanta Braves are the cream of the NL East, but they aren’t leaps and bounds above the Phillies or the Washington Nationals.
Los Angeles Angels
Maddon used to work under long-time Angels manager, Mike Scioscia. Maddon was also an interim manager and is 27-24 for the Angels.
But that isn’t all. Joe was in scouting with the Angels. The Angels really gave him his first opportunities at pro ball. This team is near and dear to Maddon’s heart.
The club has talent too. Of course, the best player in baseball is a draw, but they also have Shohei Ohtani, Kole Calhoun, and potentially some decent young arms. But, they have the 21st rated minor league system and a single player in the top 100 prospects. This team will need to build whatever is next through free agency, which I’ve already sorta knocked down.
San Diego Padres
This just seems to be the right fit. I have been on Maddon to the Padres for a couple of weeks now, and with him officially being able to seek jobs – I cannot see him managing anywhere else in 2020. They seemingly have everything that would allow for Maddon to be successful, both immediately and in the future.
The team promoted Fernando Tatis Jr., but thats the tip of the Padre iceberg. They currently have the top farm system, and it isn’t particularly close. They have nine players in the top 100, they have a roster that has a very interesting mix of young and veteran players. He has guys that he can lean on to be leaders in the clubhouse. He has players that he can help mold into great MLB players.
He would also have a city that would absolutely love him (which, if you’ve spent time in San Diego you’d understand that).
This team is absolutely ready to make a splash with their next manager. Maddon can use a more relaxed sports town. The Padres will love to bring a guy in that will spark the message that they are ready to compete with the likes of the Dodgers. As long as they come at Maddon with the right dollar amount, he will be the next skipper of the Friars.
