ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Joe Maddon wont be returning to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays announced Friday that Maddon has exercised an opt-out in his contract, which was due to expire after next season. Owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement: We tried diligently and aggressively to sign Joe to a third contract extension prior to his decision. As of yesterday afternoon, Joe enabled himself to explore opportunities throughout major league baseball. He will not be managing the Rays in 2015. Maddon has managed the Rays for nine seasons, compiling a 754-705 record. He led Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times, won two AL East titles and one World Series appearance. The decision comes less than two weeks after Tampa Bay lost executive vice-president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Friedman assembled the teams that Maddon guided in transforming the Rays from perennial losers into a club that had six consecutive winning seasons before finishing 77-85. In the last several days we worked with Joe to try to figure out a contract extension, Friedmans replacement, Matt Silverman, said during a conference call. We engaged and made many offers and it became clear from his responses that it was not an exercise that was going to lead to an outcome. Silverman, who took over as head of baseball operations after serving as team president for a decade, said Maddons contract contained a clause that allowed to opt-out under certain conditions, including Friedman leaving the Rays. Friedmans departure on Oct. 14 led to immediate questions that when Maddons contract with the Rays expired after the 2015 season that Friedman might try to lure him to the Dodgers. As I said last week, Joe and I enjoyed a tremendous relationship working together in Tampa Bay and I wish him nothing but the best wherever his next stop will be, Friedman said in a statement. However, nothing has changed on our end. Don Mattingly will be our manager next season and hopefully for a long time to come. Silverman said he was surprised and disappointed by Maddons decision. A search for a new manager will begin immediately, but theres no timetable for naming a successor. I believe Joe wanted to be the manager of the Rays long term. That was my intention and Stus intention. We dove head-first into discussions, but it takes two parties to reach an agreement, Silverman said. Im very comfortable with the financial offers that we made Joe. They were very generous, Silverman added. He listened to those and chose to opt-out. NBA Jerseys China . "Yeah, [I heard them]," he said. "They made me miss the free throw." A year ago, Lowrys post-game antics may not have been so well received but what was snide and snarky is now endearing quick wit. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . Once again, the third baseman delivered in a big spot. Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. http://www.cheapjerseysbasketball.com/ . -- Chris Crawford hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the 21st-ranked Tigers beat seventh-ranked Louisville 72-66 Saturday, sweeping the season series from the Cardinals. NFL Jerseys Supply . 28 with a Vancouver entry for the first time in 10 years and a novel new collective bargaining agreement. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .com) - Robert Upshaw made a putback jumper to put 17th-ranked Washington ahead with 1:27 remaining in the game and the Huskies held on to beat Eastern Washington 81-77 on Sunday.FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - New York Jets fans have already used billboards and airplane-toted banners to voice their frustration over their teams 2-10 season. Next up: Yellow penalty towels.The website FireJohnIdzik.com has announced it is distributing 10,000 protest towels for what the group is calling Penalty Flag Day at the Jets final home game on Dec. 21 against the New England Patriots. The towels — the colour of penalty flags — call for ownner Woody Johnson to fire general manager John Idzik, team president Neil Glat and senior personnel executive Terry Bradway.ddddddddddddThe towels will be available starting next week at bars in the New York and New Jersey area, with anyone showing a game ticket getting five of the towels that say: Attention Woody. Fire Glat! Fire Bradway! Fire Idzik! Clean House!___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '