Joe Maddon opts out of contract with Tampa Bay Rays

Joe Maddon has opted out of his contract as the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, the team confirmed Friday afternoon. He has left the team, effective immediately.

Maddon's contract would've expired after the 2015 season, and principal owner Stuart Sternberg said the team had been "diligently and aggressively" trying to sign him to an extension.

"I have been doing this for a long time,'' Maddontold the Tampa Bay Times. "I have never had this opportunity to research my employment on my terms. Never, never, never. And I think anybody given the same set of circumstances would do the same thing.''

Andrew Friedman, the team's former executive vice president and general manager, left the Rays on Oct. 14 to become the Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations.

Maddon spent nine seasons as the Rays manager, going 754-705 during that time. He led them to one American League pennant in 2008, a 4-1 World Series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. He also won the AL manager of the year twice, in 2008 and 2011.

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"Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his current contract, a contract which was not scheduled to expire until after the 2015 season," Sternberg said in a team statement. "We tried diligently and aggressively to sign Joe to a third contract extension prior to his decision. As of yesterday afternoon, Joe enabled himself to explore opportunities throughout Major League Baseball. He will not be managing the Rays in 2015. Joe has been our manager for nine seasons, and the foundation of success laid during his tenure endures. We thank him for all that he's meant to the organization."