Maddon’s new deal through 2012 official

Posted May 25, 2009 by Marc Lancaster

Updated May 25, 2009 at 01:23 PM

CLEVELAND—The Rays made Joe Maddon’s three-year contract extension official today, locking in the reigning AL Manager of the Year through 2012.

“This is where I belong. This is where I want to be,” Maddon said on a conference call this afternoon.

This season is the last in Maddon’s original contract, but there were never any indications from either end that anyone expected an outcome other than an extension. Maddon has said repeatedly that he loves managing the Rays and would like to continue building the organization and that his relationship with executive vice president Andrew Friedman, team president Matt Silverman and principal owner Stuart Sternberg is a good one.

Silverman said there is no particular reason behind the timing of this extension and that it definitely didn’t have anything to do with the team’s subpar start on the field this year.

“There was never a question amongst us – amongst Joe and Andrew and Stu and myself,” said Silverman. “And if there were any questions in the clubhouse, hopefully this contract answers those.”

Maddon raised his national profile significantly by guiding the Rays to the World Series last fall and likely will be in demand for any high-profile managerial jobs that open from this point forward. The new contract doesn’t guarantee he’ll stay with Tampa Bay for the duration, of course, but he said he has no desire to work anywhere else.

“I’ve never been one to seek supposedly greener pastures,” Maddon said. “I’ve always been loyal to my situation.”

Maddon has a 247-285 record leading the Rays.