"There has been progress in the talks between the Rays and manager Joe Maddon on a contract extension.

Maddon's current contract expires as the end of this coming season. Both sides have expressed strong public interest in continuing the successful relationship.

Maddon said in early December that talks had begun and he was "very confident" an agreement would be reached. "I'm sure it's going to be all worked out in due time," Maddon said in Dallas at the baseball winter meetings. And executive VP Andrew Friedman said then, "My expectation is to work with Joe for a long time.""