Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon has never been someone who looks to draw attention to himself. When the Cubs did not offer him a contract extension this past winter, Maddon said that everything would simply take care of itself if the team was winning.

While this season has provided more drama on the North Side of Chicago, Maddon told ESPN Cubs beat writer Jesse Rogers he thinks he will be back with the Cubs in 2020:

“I'm operating like we'll be together for a couple more years, at least,” Maddon said before his team played the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. “I'm not going to sit and proclaim I'm looking to go elsewhere. That's not true.”

Despite winning more games than any other manager in the league between 2015 and 2018, Maddon drew a lot of criticism for some of the team's failures in 2018, which saw them lose to the Colorado Rockies in the National League Wild Card game.

Theo Epstein has not done a whole lot to ease much of the tension.

Pitching coach Jim Hickey — who had also been on staff with Maddon in Tampa Bay — left the team this past winter, though there is reason to believe he was forced out. Prior to the trade deadline, Epstein said that major changes might be on the horizon, and he also has a history of parting ways with successful managers, including Terry Francona.

The Cubs still lead the NL Central, but they would be in a much more comfortable position were it not for a 23-35 road record. Maddon likely has his work cut out for him if he hopes to keep his job.