ST. LOUIS — Cubs president Theo Epstein’s “year of reckoning” claimed its first casualty Sunday, when the Cubs announced the exit of Joe Maddon, arguably the most successful manager in franchise history.
Maddon and Epstein met reporters at Busch Stadium on Sunday morning to share the news that Maddon had been fired before the season finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. Maddon was still scheduled to manage the final game.
Epstein said the two spent 30 to 40 minutes celebrating an unbelievable five-year run during a meeting with Maddon on Saturday night. Epstein called this a “win-win” for the Cubs and Maddon.
“We both agreed that it’s time and this type of change is necessary,” Epstein said.
Said Maddon: “I’m really excited about the future. I’m excited about the Cubs future.”
There will be plenty of debate in the days ahead of where the blame for a lost season lies.
The move surprised no one, coming on the final day of a lame-duck season for Maddon — 11 months after Epstein said he would not consider a contract extension for his manager until the end of the season.
Maddon was in the final year of a five-year deal that paid him $6 million in 2019.
“I think the life expectancy in Chicago might be less than some other places,” Maddon said. “Maybe five in Chicago is seven to 10 somewhere else.”
Epstein said the club will meet with coaches Tuesday in Chicago to discuss their status.
The parting, which came after a postgame meeting Saturday night between Maddon and Epstein, signals the start of what’s expected to be a series of sweeping changes in the organization, from the player-development department to the big-league coaching staff and roster.
It also brings to an abrupt end a five-year era of successful baseball for the franchise unlike any since Wrigley Field opened more than 100 years ago.
“He should be revered as a legend in this town for a long time,” veteran pitcher Jon Lester said.
With Joe Maddon gone, time for the Ricketts family to take the blame for the #Cubs’ decline. My column: https://t.co/fdyx6uTtDZ pic.twitter.com/dAuc0G2QFG
— Rick Morrissey (@MorrisseyCST) September 29, 2019
Veteran Ben Zobrist, MVP of the 2016 World Series who also played for Maddon with the Rays, was asked if the club is making mistake by firing Maddon.
“I’m not going to make a judgment call on that,” Zobrist said. “There’s a sadness that I feel personally as a player.”
Maddon’s run included trips to the National League Championship Series his first three seasons, the franchise’s first World Series title since 1908, more victories than anyone in baseball his first four seasons, the second-highest winning percentage (.582) of any manager in franchise history with at least 130 games and a franchise-record 19 postseason victories.
“I’ve had a blast,” Maddon said more than once during the final week of the season, when the Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention and reality of what might be next seemed to sink in.
A three-time manager of the year, Maddon joined the Cubs after a last-place finish in 2014 and after nine seasons with the underdog Tampa Bay Rays that included that franchise’s only World Series appearance (2008).
Maddon, 65, who said he would like to manage five more seasons, isn’t expected to be unemployed for long. The Mets and possibly Phillies are expected to have managerial openings, and either would seem a strong fit for Maddon.
In recent weeks and months, Maddon characterized the decision on his future with the club as more of a mutual process.
“When you’re in the position I’m in — and I’ve been there before for two weeks — you do have choices, which is unusual,” said Maddon, who exercised an opt-out clause in his contract with Tampa Bay in October 2014 to become a free agent.
He also said as recently as Friday that he wanted to return to the Cubs as he awaited word on whether he would be asked back, making this a firing in no uncertain terms.
“He’s a different manager than I’ve played for. I really enjoyed it,” veteran pitcher Cole Hamels said after his final start of the season Saturday night before becoming a free agent. “He really let us be ourselves and then still be able to compete out on the field and enjoying the moments that we have.
“I always wanted to play for Joe, and I’m very happy I had the opportunity to. And you never know. Obviously, he still wants to manage, wherever it’ll be, and obviously I still want to play. So you never know if something will line up again.”
Any question whether the White Sox will be interested in pursuing the sudden free agent — duplicating a Maddon-for-Rick Renteria swap again — the Sox’ Rick Hahn shot that theory down here.
MADDON BY THE NUMBERS
.582: Cubs winning percentage, second only to Frank Chance in franchise history (min. 130 games)
19: Franchise-record postseason victories
108: Years Cubs went without a World Series title until the 2016 championship under Maddon
2: World Series appearances (also Rays’ only pennant, 2008)
3: Manager of the Year awards (2008 and 2011 with Rays; 2015 with Cubs)
9: 90-win seasons in 14-year managing career (including four with Cubs)
11: Winning seasons
