According to a report from Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), the Tampa Bay Rays have reached a contract extension with manager Joe Maddon. The contract is a three-year deal, keeping Maddon in Tampa Bay through the 2014 season, and the financial details have not yet been released. Considering that Maddon was already under contract to get paid around $1.4 million in 2012, it seems likely that Maddon will not receive any less than that as a yearly salary. The Rays are expected to announce the contract extension on Wednesday.

Maddon is already a living legend down in Tampa Bay. He is already the longest tenured manager in franchise history, having led the Rays to a 495-477 record (.509 W-L%) over six seasons thus far. The Rays have reached the playoffs three times under him, going all the way to the World Series in 2008, and Maddon has been honored as the AL Manager of the Year twice (2008, 2011).

When managers get hyped up by fans and the press, it's normally the case that they end up overrated -- but that's not the case with Maddon. He's one of the most open-minded managers in baseball, and he's willing to try any outside-the-box idea if he thinks it has a chance to help improve the Rays' chances of winning. He employs defensive shifts more than any other manager; he changes the lineup around on a daily basis; and he looks beyond simple lefty-righty matchups, basing his decisions on things like pitch repertoire and batted ball splits. He's possibly the most cerebral manager in baseball, making him a perfect fit for the Rays.

A few weeks ago, Rays VP and GM Andrew Friedman stated that, "My expectation is to work with Joe for a long time." With this contract extension, it seems likely the Rays will have at least another three season with Joe Maddon and Andrew Friedman...and who knows, maybe even more after that.

To join in the conversation about this extension, drop by SB Nation's blog on the Rays, DRaysBay.