Kevin Cash Named Rays Manager: Latest Details and Reaction

After a lengthy and thorough search, the Tampa Bay Rays have chosen Kevin Cash to become the fifth manager in team history.

Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune made things official:

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com initially reported the decision.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times has the Rays' statement on Cash:

Joe Maddon shocked the baseball world when he opted out of his contract in October, thus ending his successful nine-year tenure as Tampa Bay's skipper. Maddon ultimately joined the Chicago Cubs as their manager, but the Rays apparently feel as though they have found a suitable replacement.

According to ESPN's Jim Bowden, Tampa Bay's list of managerial candidates was whittled down to Cash or Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu:

In the end, the Rays felt comfortable with the 36-year-old former catcher, who served as the Cleveland Indians' bullpen coach for the past two seasons.

Among those who viewed Cash as the ideal option for the Rays was legendary baseball journalist Peter Gammons:

Maddon had unprecedented success as Tampa Bay's manager by leading the team to the postseason four times, including a World Series appearance in 2008.

Replacing a man who is widely regarded as one of the league's best managers certainly won't be easy, but there is a belief that Cash has all the tools needed to be great in his own right.

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