Maddon out as Cubs manager; Ross interested

Joe Maddon's tenure as manager of the Chicago Cubs is over, three years after he helped end the franchise's 108-year-old World Series title drought. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and Maddon agreed to part ways on Sunday at the conclusion of the 65-year-old skipper's five-year contract.

"We're both going to move on," Maddon told reporters in St. Louis. "Hopefully, the Cubs are going to flourish. Hopefully, I get a chance to do this someplace else. But there's no tears shed. It's a good moment for everybody. And we're both excited about our futures." Maddon guided the Cubs to at least 92 wins in each of his first four seasons, highlighted by a 103-58 record and the franchise's first World Series championship since 1908 in 2016.

Chicago missed the postseason for the first time in Maddon's tenure and entered Sunday's season finale at St. Louis at 84-77. "We're in transition," Epstein said. "Change was needed."

"We never could have imagined this working out as well as it did," he added. "I personally never could have imagined having such a wonderful partner, someone so loyal and supportive and someone from whom I learned so much about baseball and life." Maddon's .582 winning percentage (471-338) ranks second in Cubs history behind Frank Chance's .664 mark (768-389) from 1905-12.

There will likely be many teams interested in hiring Maddon, who has said he wants to work until he is at least 70. A three-time Manager of the Year, Maddon managed the Tampa Bay Rays for nine seasons (2006-14) and the California/Anaheim Angels for parts of two seasons (1996, 1999) before joining the Cubs. He led the Rays to the American League pennant in 2008.

Later Sunday, former Cubs catcher and 15-year veteran David Ross said he would have interest in the job, after being connected to it through various rumors. "I think it's one of the best jobs in baseball," said Ross, who is currently an ESPN analyst. "I've got a lot of close ties with those guys. I think the interest would be there. I think my heart is drawn to that dugout a little bit. The rumors are flattering. It makes you think about a lot of things. I've got a nice job here at ESPN that I enjoy and gives me a lot of free time with my three kids.

"... I've got a lot of thinking to do if this gets presented to me as everyone says will happen. I'm sure waiting for that phone call." Ross, 42, played for seven teams during his career, spending 2015 and 2016 with the Cubs and winning a World Series in his final season.

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