Mike Maddux has been one of the most successful pitching coaches in Major League Baseball over his entire career, whether it was with the Milwaukee Brewers or in his current tenure with the Texas Rangers.
But the veteran coach will officially be a free agent on Friday, when his current contract expires, and folks are beginning to wonder if he'll be back in Arlington for the 2015 season under new Rangers manager Jeff Banister. Maddux has been in Arizona working with the organization's young pitchers essentially since the Rangers' season ended last month, and it looks promising he'll be back in the Rangers' dugout next season.
Maddux, who has overseen the six best pitching staffs since the Rangers moved to their current stadium, has turned the Rangers' pitching staff from a laughingstock to a respected unit in his time with the team, has had discussions with Banister about next season and by all accounts, it seems the two sides seem open to working together. Maddux was also interviewed for the opening that Banister ended up filling.
"Jeff and I have had positive talks," Maddux told ESPN Dallas.
Brief, sure, but it's reassuring for Rangers fans to know that the two have had several discussions and they've all been of the positive manner because bringing Maddux back is a big deal for the Rangers' young pitchers, of whom several are expected to be key contributors in 2015.
