Could Joe Maddon manage or coach the St. Louis Cardinals?

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon decided to opt out of his contract and leave the Rays organization. If a position opens, the St. Louis Cardinals should make a move for Maddon.

When then-manager Tony La Russa retired following the 2011 season, Maddon’s name came up as a potential replacement. Any hopes of managing during the 2015 season would be with the Minnesota Twins as they are the only team with an opening.

Maddon told the Tampa Bay Times that the financial component factored into his decision.

“I have been doing this for a long time, Maddon told 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.”

“Joe Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his current contract, a contract which was not scheduled to expire until after the 2015 season,” Rays Principal Owner Stuart 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.”

Even if Maddon isn’t managing this season, he could stay involved in the game in another capacity as a special assistant or coach. The Cardinals currently don’t have any coaching positions open at the Major League level but current bench coach Mike Aldrete is one of the top candidates for the Oakland Athletics’ vacancy in the same position. Chip Hale left the position to become the Arizona Diamondbacks manager.

If Aldrete leaves, Maddon would be welcome by the Cardinals fanbase in a heartbeat. He’s been a fan of the team since his father bought him a Cardinals hat in 1963.

In nine seasons at the helm of the Rays, Maddon owns a 754-705 record. Throw in the parts of two seasons managing the Angels and his career record is 781-729. Maddon is a two-time American League manager of the year and managed the Rays to the 2008 American League pennant.