No one will remember how Joe Maddon got the job as long as he wins big at Wrigley Field.

While a source close to the Maddon negotiations labeled the done deal portrayed in Wednesday’s CBSSports.com report as “not accurate,” all other signs are pointing toward him being the next Cubs manager.

Multiple industry sources have described the inevitable sense Maddon will land on the North Side, but this is still messy.

The Maddon-to-Chicago rumors started from the moment he opted out of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays last week. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein still hasn’t publicly addressed the status of manager Rick Renteria, who has two guaranteed seasons remaining on his contract but already saw the writing on the wall.

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Day 6 of Maddon Watch almost overshadowed the San Francisco Giants beating the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, in a fantastic Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium and winning their third World Series title in five years. But the wall of silence on Clark Street will be coming down soon.

Until then, a look back at the pressure points leading up to what could be a franchise-changing moment:

• Sept. 26: Before Game 160 against the Milwaukee Brewers, Epstein said Renteria “absolutely” would be coming back next season. Epstein declined to answer that question about Dale Sveum the year before at Miller Park, delivering the “no alarm bells to ring” line and putting the manager on the hot seat. By Opening Day 2015, the Cubs appear to be looking at their fifth manager in six seasons. 

• Sept. 28: The Rays finished at 77-85 and in fourth place in the American League East. They had won at least 90 games in five of the previous six seasons. They also traded away Cy Young winner David Price in a three-team deal at the July 31 deadline. They hadn’t resolved the Tropicana Field situation or silenced rumors about a potential move to another city.

Tampa Bay’s Opening Day payroll came in around $77 million, according to the Associated Press, which is nothing compared to what the New York Yankees ($203 million) and Boston Red Sox ($163 million) keep spending in that division.

• Sept. 30: The first question at Epstein’s state-of-the-team press conference involved Renteria’s coaches. The Cubs had improved to 73 wins, a seven-game improvement from the year before, while using 16 rookies, including 10 making their big-league debuts. Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo bounced back and earned All-Star selections.

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“The coaching staff, I thought, by and large, did a really nice job this year,” Epstein said. “As a result, everyone will be invited back, with the one exception of assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley, who will be considering some nice opportunities outside the organization, as well as inside the organization.

“The staff really worked hard, really did a nice job establishing the culture that we’re looking for here.”

• Oct. 7: Confirmation that hitting coach Bill Mueller resigned, disagreeing with the way the Cubs handled the Brumley situation. Mueller, a batting champion who won a World Series ring with the 2004 Red Sox, had pushed for Brumley to join the staff and worked closely with the assistant hitting coach for one season. 

• Oct. 9: The Cubs announced the hiring of John Mallee – who had been a hitting coach for the Houston Astros and Florida Marlins – and officially spelled out Renteria’s 2015 coaching staff in a press release.

Doug Dascenzo would be the new first-base/outfield coach, with Eric Hinske shifting to assistant hitting coach. The rest of the coaching staff would remain intact: Chris Bosio (pitching), Brandon Hyde (bench), Gary Jones (third base/infield), Lester Strode (bullpen), Mike Borzello (catching/strategy), Jose Castro (quality assurance) and Franklin Font (staff assistant).

Castro – who’s close with Renteria and Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez and had been thinking about leaving – later jumped to the Braves to become their assistant hitting coach.

• Oct. 10: Epstein praised Renteria’s energy and enthusiasm during an “On Deck 2015” event for season-ticket holders. Meeting with writers backstage at the Oriental Theatre, Epstein talked about Mallee and the value of continuity.

“John’s got a great reputation,” Epstein said. “He’s done this job before and done it well. He’s worked with raw young hitters and gotten results. He’s a knowledgeable, energetic, passionate worker who I think will fit in really well with the rest of our staff and hopefully create some stability for us.

“We’re aware of the turnover…our major-league hitting-coach position is like the ‘Spinal Tap’ drumming situation. We hope that John will solve that for us.”

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• Oct. 11: The Cubs held a Wrigley Field groundbreaking ceremony for their $575 million development. “The 1060 Project” attracted a group of dignitaries that included Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, who hates teams making news during the playoffs and distracting from showcase events.

Think the outgoing commissioner wants a Maddon-to-Cubs scoop dropping right before first pitch in a World Series Game 7?

• Oct. 14: The Los Angeles Dodgers hired Rays general manager Andrew Friedman to be their president of baseball operations, triggering an opt-out clause in Maddon’s contract, which would have expired after the 2015 season.

Despite immediate speculation about a potential reunion in Hollywood – Maddon owns a home in Southern California and spent 31 years in the Angels organization – the manager told the Los Angeles Times he would be discussing a contract extension.

“I want to continue to be a Ray, absolutely,” Maddon said. “They have to want me to be a Ray, too.”

Maddon made less than $2 million per year with Tampa Bay and will be 61 next season, factors that have him thinking about his long-term future and what’s best for his family.

“I’m really embedded here pretty well,” Maddon told the newspaper. “The roots are pretty strong. We have a great infrastructure here. We have a great operation. We have great people.

“There’s so much to like. There’s only one negative. That’s the ballpark. It’s a big negative. But that’s about it.”

• Oct. 21: @RaysJoeMaddon tweeted about Ava, the new Italian restaurant in Tampa that brought him on as an investor: “Putting the Staff together…Interested?...Getting close to opening day.”

He’s since changed his Twitter handle to @Maddonini, which had been the family name until his Italian father, Joe Sr., shortened it.

• Oct. 24: Maddon shocked the baseball world by opting out of his contract, wanting to explore all his options and looking for a new deal in the range of five years and $25 million.

“We tried diligently and aggressively to sign Joe to a third contract extension,” Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said in a statement. “Joe has been our manager for nine seasons, and the foundation of success laid during his tenure endures. We thank him for all that he’s meant to the organization.”

Friedman quickly issued a vote of confidence for Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. The New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies did the same for Terry Collins and Ryne Sandberg. Epstein’s silence would become deafening.

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• Oct. 25: Alan Nero – Maddon’s agent with an office in downtown Chicago – said he had already fielded multiple broadcasting offers for his client while talking to other teams. But the Maddon camp definitely had the Cubs on the radar, anticipating a decision around the end of the World Series.

• Oct. 26: The Tampa Bay Times reported Maddon’s coaches are under contract for next season, with the entire staff expected to return to the Rays in 2015 and bench coach Dave Martinez a strong candidate for the manager’s job. 

• Oct. 27: Renteria released a statement to media outlets through his agent, Ken Solomon, declining further comment: “I was hired nearly a year ago to be the Chicago Cubs manager. Notwithstanding all the speculation, I continue to focus my offseason preparation on achieving the goal we established from the start: Bringing a championship to Chicago.”