New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Major League Baseball concluded its investigation into whether the Chicago Cubs violated tampering rules prior to hiring Joe Maddon as the team's new manager and found no wrongdoing.
"The investigation produced no finding of a violation of Major League Rule 3(k) on Tampering," the league said in a statement.
Rule 3(k) states that teams are prohibited from negotiating with players, coaches, managers and umpires while still under contract with a different club.
The Tampa Bay Rays, Maddon's former club, alleged the Cubs contacted Maddon before he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract on October 23, 2014.
On October 31, Chicago fired first-year manager Rick Renteria and confirmed its pursuit of Maddon. Just four days later, Maddon was hired as the next Cubs manager.
Maddon managed the Rays for nine seasons and reached the playoffs four times, including winning the team's only American League pennant in 2008. He was twice named AL Manager of the Year and owned a 781-729 record that included two stints as interim manager of the Angels.
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