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Agent: Joe Maddon prepared to sit out 2015 season

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Joe Maddon has attracted plenty of suitors since he unexpectedly exercised his opt-out clause with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, but the veteran manager may not be back in the dugout next season.

Roughly half of the league's general managers have contacted Maddon since Friday's shocking decision, but Maddon is prepared to take a year off if he doesn't find a good fit, agent Alan Nero told a Chicago radio station Saturday morning.

“There’s no deadline,” Nero told 670 The Score. “We’re going to go about our business and be very careful to not get out of sorts with this. If someone comes at us full force and the situation is right, Joe’s looking for a big challenge. He’s looking for an organization that’s committed to win. If those elements are together and the talent for them is quick, we’ll make it quick. If not, he’s prepared to take a year off.”

Maddon, who led the Rays to four postseason appearance in his nine-year tenure with the club, is reportedly seeking a five-year deal in the $25-million range. Though Maddon has piqued the interest of numerous teams, only one club - the Minnesota Twins - currently has a vacancy at the manager position.

“Respectfully, there’s only one job opening, and that’s Minnesota,” Nero said. “Any team that would have interest would have the delicate situation of considering to let their current manager go, so it’s really important for us not to sensationalize this because it’s not fair to the reigning manager. There’s quite a bit of interest.”

Maddon, however, is amenable to off-the-field positions, too.

“I actually had conversations with about 15 GMs (Friday), some of them wondering if Joe would take a high-level front-office position,” Nero said. “It’s kind of funny that Tony La Russa is in command of the (Arizona) Diamondbacks right now. We’re open to anything and everything, and certainly the Cubs would be on our radar. We have great respect for that organization. It would be up to them when they’re ready to talk about it and ready to pursue it.”

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