PHOENIX —
The Padres got a jump on their search for a manager when they fired Andy Green with eight games remaining in the season.
On Sunday, arguably the biggest name on their list of potential managers became the first to officially become available.
The Cubs announced that they and manager Joe Maddon were parting ways prior to the final game of the Cubs’ season.
The Padres can now call Maddon, one of the winningest managers in major league history.
They have already made calls about him.
Sources familiar with some details of the team’s search said among the Padres’ due diligence has been trying to ascertain details of how the relationship between Maddon and Cubs president Theo Epstein reached a point where Maddon departed three years after leading the franchise to its first World Series title in 108 years.