The Rays filed tampering charges with MLB, claiming that the only reason Maddon opted out in Tampa Bay was due to his becoming aware that the Cubs would offer him a deal that would make him the highest paid manager in the game. Cubs President Theo Epstein claimed that he had sent an email to MLB to be certain that Maddon was indeed a free agent before contacting him about their managerial position. On April 29, 2015, MLB cleared the Cubs of any tampering charges.