MLB Plans To Resolve Joe Maddon Tampering Case Before Start Of Season

(CBSSports.com) MLB commissioner Rob Manfred plans to resolve the tampering case surrounding Cubs manager Joe Maddon before the start of the season.

During the offseason, Maddon used a opt-out clause in his contract to leave the Rays and was hired as the Cubs' new manager. MLB has been investigating the events surrounding Maddon's departure from Tampa Bay. The Cubs maintain that there was no contact while Maddon was still under contract with the Rays.

Meeting with the media in Phoenix on Monday, Manfred said, "We will have the Maddon situation resolved before the season begins."

Manfred said the investigation has gone into spring training, because he wants to make sure MLB gets it right.

"It's easy to do a quick investigation and reach a quick decision," Manfred said. "Our preference here, because it's an important issue in terms of the way the clubs interact with each other, was to do a very, very thorough investigation and make sure we make the right decision."

The Cubs have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

"It's just wholly inaccurate," Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said when the news first broke in November. "There's nothing to it. If we keep seeing stuff in print, then we're going to respond at some point. For now, we'll just take it day-by-day. But there was absolutely no tampering whatsoever."