Matt Silverman, the new vice president of the Tampa Bay Rays, expects Joe Maddon to manage the team in 2015 and beyond.

Maddon, entering the final year of his contract, said he wants to return.

There has been speculation that Andrew Friedman, who left the Rays to take over the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this week, would try to bring Maddon to his new club.

"We've been comfortable with Joe managing in the final year of his contract. It may not be ideal, but it's always a possibility," Silverman said. "Just because that might happen doesn't mean he's not going to be the manager here long term. I hope we all wake up one day and you see that Joe's here even longer than he's signed for today."