As reported earlier on Monday, Major League Baseball is launching an investigation into the Chicago Cubs’ hiring of Joe Maddon.
“After receiving a request from the Rays to do so last week, MLB has unleashed its Department of Investigation to look into whether the Cubs tampered with Joe Maddon while he was still under contract to Tampa Bay, The Post has learned.”
[MLB probing Cubs for tampering with Maddon, by Joel Sherman, The New York Post]
Theo Epstein, President of the Cubs, had a curious response later in the day. The Chicago Tribune quotes Epstein:
“We welcome the MLB investigation,” Epstein said Monday night at the general managers meetings. “As we said last week there’s no tampering whatsoever, and I’d rather they investigate so we can clear our names and get this over and move on from this quickly. We’re giving our full cooperation and welcome it.”
Last Sunday Maddon’s agent, Alan Nero, went on MLB Network Radio to vehemently deny and dismiss tampering allegations threatened by Tampa Bay. ESPN reported:
“”Theo [Epstein] would not even have talked unless he got clearance from the commissioner’s office,” agent Alan Nero said. “It’s silly to suggest that [tampering], if they want to pursue that, that’s fine.
In my world, if someone in your family has an opportunity to better themselves, you give them your blessing and move on. This accusation of tampering is really sad and a bit insulting.”
Main Photo
