(Reuters) – The Chicago Cubs ended their regular season by embarking on a new direction on Sunday, parting ways with manager Joe Maddon after five largely successful seasons with the baseball franchise.
Maddon, who helped the Cubs end a 108-year-old World Series drought by winning the title in 2016, reached the end of his five-year contract and tenure with the team. “We’re both going to move on,” Maddon told reporters prior to the team’s season finale loss to 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,” he added. The Cubs (84-78) missed the post-season this year for the first time during Maddon’s tenure.
“We’re in transition,” president of baseball operations Theo 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 is a three-time Manager of the Year.
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Darren Schuettler)
