Cubs cleared of tampering charges in pursuit of Manager Joe Maddon

Major League Baseball ruled that the Chicago Cubs did not violate tampering rules when they pursued Manager Joe Maddon last fall.

The commissioner’s office released a statement Wednesday clearing the Cubs of wrongdoing about six months after Tampa Bay accused Chicago of tampering with their manager before Maddon opted out of his contract with the Rays.

“We’re glad that the process is over,” Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer said. “We’re glad the result we expected came through and now we can put it behind us and never talk about it again.”

The Cubs announced on Oct. 31 that Rick Renteria had been fired after one season as manager and that Maddon was hired. Maddon opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay soon after Rays executive Andrew Friedman left the club to become president of baseball operations for the Dodgers in mid-October.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks placed pitcher Archie Bradley on the 15-day disabled list with a sinus fracture in the right side of his face after he was struck by a line drive Tuesday night in the second inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies. ... The Washington Nationals signed Jose Valverde to a minor league contract as an insurance policy for their inconsistent bullpen. Valverde, with 288 career saves, last worked as a full-time closer with Detroit in 2012. ... Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer has recovered from a sprained right thumb and will make his next start Friday against the New York Mets. Scherzer missed his scheduled start Tuesday against Atlanta after injuring his thumb while batting last week.