Joe Maddon not on Ruben Amaro’s radar

Jul 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon (70) watches from the dugout during the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The most recent shakeup in the MLB managerial market came Friday when Tampa Bay Rays’ skipper Joe Maddon opted out of his contract.  With the surprising news has come a lot of anticipation about where he might manage next.  According to Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Philadelphia won’t be his next destination.

When asked about Maddon as a possibility instead of current manager Ryne Sandberg, Amaro was concise in his answer to the team’s official website.

“We have a manager.  Ryne Sandberg is our manager,” said Amaro.

Maddon, a native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, has nine full seasons as a big league manager under his belt.  During his time with Tampa Bay, he led the Rays to the 2008 World Series when they were defeated by the Phillies.

He also managed 51 games in two brief stints with the Angels’ organization in 1996 and 1999.  Maddon has a 781-729 overall managing record and is widely considered one of the best active managers in baseball.  His agent is communicating with teams to find Maddon a new job.

After one full season at the helm, Phillies manager Ryne Sanberg has a 93-111 overall record, including 42 games in 2013 after Charlie Manuel was fired.

Shortly after the end of the 2014 regular season, Philadelphia announced it would like to keep all members of its coaching staff.

Amaro told the team’s official site, “I know that (Sandberg) is dedicated and focused on putting the Phillies where they need to be, and I feel very good about his instincts and ability to get us to where we need to go.”

Sandberg saw his team finish in last place in the National League East in the first year of MLB’s video replay era.  He challenged 32 calls and 14 of them were overturned.

The 55-year-old Sandberg is signed through 2016.