Report: Cubs to hire Joe Maddon as manager

Joe Maddon, who unexpectedly exercised his opt-out clause with the Tampa Bay Rays earlier this month, appears to be the man the Chicago Cubs want to bring them back to relevance, according to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman.

Maddon abruptly ended his nine-year tenure with Tampa Bay last week after general manager Andrew Friedman left the club to become president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs deny that a deal has been finalized, but Heyman's sources suggest a deal is "certain" be completed shortly.

Though only one club had a managerial vacancy when Maddon opted out of his contract, roughly half of the league's 30 teams contacted Maddon's agent about the 60-year-old manager who led the Rays to four postseason appearances.

Maddon, who's set to replace Rick Renteria after just one season at the helm, was reportedly seeking a five-year deal in the $25-million range.