LOS ANGELES -- Joe Maddon is now a free agent after opting out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays in a surprise move on Friday. But he won't be joining his old boss Andrew Friedman, the new president of baseball operations with the Dodgers, at least not as manager.
Friedman confirmed what he said at his introductory press conference one week ago, on Oct. 17 — that Don Mattingly will continue to manage the Dodgers.
"As I said last week, Joe and I enjoyed a tremendous relationship working together in Tampa Bay and I wish him nothing but the best wherever his next stop will be," Friedman said in a statement released by the team. "However, nothing has changed on our end. Don Mattingly will be our manager next season and hopefully for a long time to come."
Maddon managed the Rays for the last nine seasons, the same tenure Friedman was his general manager.
Mattingly is under contract through 2016.