ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Kevin Cash is the new manager of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The team announced the former Cleveland Indians bullpen coach as Joe Maddon’s replacement on Friday, selecting him over ex-Seattle Mariners manager and current Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu.
Cash, who turns 37 on Saturday, has no previous managerial experience. The former big-league catcher, who appeared in 13 games with Tampa Bay in 2005, served as Cleveland’s bullpen coach for the past two seasons and becomes the youngest active manager in the majors.
Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Cash’s “energy and dynamic personality will fit seamlessly with our clubhouse.”
President of baseball operations Matt Silverman, who led the search, echoed that sentiment.
“Kevin is passionate, genuine and dedicated, and those attributes will resonate throughout our clubhouse,” Silverman said. “As a catcher, a scout and a coach, he has always been a student of the game, and his communication and tireless work will put our club in a position to win, night in and night out.”
A Tampa native, Cash is not a stranger to the American League East after playing all but 20 games of an eight-year big league career with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Rays.
Before joining the Indians in 2013, Cash spent one season as a major league advance scout for the Blue Jays.
The Rays finished 77-85 this year, ending a stretch of six consecutive winning seasons. Maddon was under contract through 2015, but exercised an option to leave when talks on a new deal broke down.
Thumbnail photo via Lance Iversen/USA TODAY Sports Images
