Will the Rays lose Joe Maddon next?

With the departure of Andrew Friedman also ends the longest tenured GM-Manager relationship in the game, but many are already claiming: Not so fast!

Would not be surprised if Joe Maddon is managing #Dodgers in 2016. His contract with TB expires after 2015. Maintains home in Long Beach.

— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) October 14, 2014

LAD and TB should cut a deal for Joe Maddon right now, and move forward. No sense in having that situation hang over Mattingly in 2015.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 14, 2014

@Buster_ESPN That's one of the most interesting part of this. The clubhouse was the biggest issue with 2014 Dodgers, not the front office

— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 14, 2014

It's possible that the Rays could offer Maddon up as trade bait for the Dodgers, but all those hoping for a Puig trade should hold their breath.

Rival exec: "I don’t think (Dodgers) give up talent for Maddon." Start season with Mattingly, see if Maddon signs extension, figure it out.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 14, 2014

Sarcasm aside, when the going rate for trading a manager is something like Mike Aviles, the Dodgers can do whatever they want. The Rays would also have two incumbents, should Maddon leave, in bench coach Davey Martinez who once upon a time was a frequent interviewer for manager openings, and Durham's longtime manager Charlie Montoyo.

Maybe the Maddon/LA speculation is why Dave Martinez didn't interview anywhere this off season

— Erik Hahmann (@ehahmann) October 14, 2014

So at the end of the day, Maddon's contract should not be a hindrance if he wants to leave when leaving would make sense. Let's hope he just like what he's built here in Tampa Bay enough to give that elusive World Series ring one more go.