Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the Tampa Bay Rays have signed manager Kevin Cash to an extension through 2024. Cash had one year left on his original five-year $5-million contract, with two team options. That’s all now absorbed by the new deal, the financial particulars of which are not yet known.
Cash will receive strong consideration for AL Manager of the year this year after guiding a Rays team many thought would be pretty bad to a 90-win season. He did so despite the fact that the front office shed several veterans last offseason, some of which came in straight salary dumps. Cash was able to get maximum effort out of a cast of young players while simultaneously implementing a radical new approach to starting pitching via the use of multiple scheduled bullpen days and the advent of the “opener” strategy.
Cash holds a 318-330 (.491) record over four seasons as manager. The future for him and the Rays looks far brighter, however.