Dec 8, 2014; San Deigo, CA, USA; Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash speaks with media at the MLB Winter Meetings at Manchester Grand Hyatt. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
The Tampa Bay Rays have their new manager.
The Rays announced Friday that they have hired Kevin Cash as their new bench boss, replacing Joe Maddon who left for the Chicago Cubs on Oct. 24.
Official #Rays release on hiring of Kevin Cash as manager pic.twitter.com/xN1Ot9dAqd
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) December 5, 2014
Cash, who spent the last two years as the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen coach, has never managed before. He was chosen ahead of Don Wakamatsu and Raul Ibanez, who withdrew from contention earlier in the week.
He spent the 2012 season as an advanced scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Cash, who turns 37 Saturday, played parts of eight major league seasons, hitting .183 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI but picked up two World Series rings (07, Red Sox, 09 Yankees). He played in just 246 games and appeared in 13 games with the Devil Rays in 2005.
Upon release of Rays managerial list, thought Kevin Cash was it. He and Don Wakamatsu great candidates, but many in org predict Cash. Star
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 5, 2014
While he has never managed, Cash is considered “to have a sharp baseball mind, excellent people skills and a good grasp of analytics,” according to Mark Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
The Tampa native was a runner-up for the Texas Rangers’ manager job earlier this year so he was considered a legitimate candidate to manage.
The Rays reportedly wanted to hire a new manager before the Winter Meetings started Monday.