Joe Maddon's Agent, Cubs Under MLB Investigation Regarding Maddon Hiring

A week after the Cubs hired Joe Maddon to be its manager—a move almost universally lauded—Chicago and Maddon's agent, Alan Nero, are under investigation by Major League Baseball for tampering.  

Continue for updates.

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Theo Epstein: 'There Was No Tampering"

Carrie Muskat of MLB.com provides Epstein's comments discussing the investigation from Monday night at the general manager meetings in Phoenix:

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We welcome the MLB investigation. As we said last week, there was no tampering whatsoever. I’d rather they investigate, so we can clear our names and move on from this quickly. We’re giving our full cooperation.

"

Monday, Nov. 10

Investigation into Maddon Hiring Revealed

The Chicago Cubs still seem to have the worst luck as an investigation into Maddon's hiring is now underway.  

Joel Sherman of the New York Post first broke the story:

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It is the Rays' contention Maddon only opted out of his contract because he was made aware of what the Cubs were willing to offer him should he jump. If that indeed occurred, it would be an infraction of major league rules that forbid teams to talk to personnel under contract with another club.

Cubs officials, Maddon and Maddon's agent, Alan Nero, all previously have denied the matter was discussed until Maddon officially opted out of his deal on Oct. 23. At the General Managers Meetings, both Nero and Rays general manager Matt Silverman refused comment.

"

Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago provided comments from Nero, who called the accusation "embarrassing."

"[Cubs President] Theo [Epstein] would not even have talked unless he got clearance from the commissioner's office," said Nero. "It's silly to suggest that [tampering], if they want to pursue that, that's fine."

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press/Associated Press

Maddon left his post as Tampa Bay Rays manager near the end of October following the departure of Andrew Friedman, Tampa Bay's former executive vice president of baseball operations. A little over a week after Maddon's resignation, the Cubs officially unveiled him as their new manager.

It's worth noting that Maddon had an opt-out clause in his contract that was triggered after Friedman left.

Sherman wrote that in the event Chicago did tamper, the Cubs could have to give the Rays compensation in the form of money, player(s) and/or draft picks. In the most extreme case, suspensions could arise.

However, Tampa Bay might get caught in the crossfire as well. Sherman wrote that a deteriorating relationship between Nero and the Rays could rob the team of one of its managerial candidates:

No matter the result of the investigation, nothing will take the shine off the Cubs' addition of Maddon. He's among the best managers in the league and perfectly suited to take a young Chicago team forward in the coming years.

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay has lost two of the driving forces behind the franchise's success in recent years. Almost no amount of compensation from Chicago could replace that.