Cash to helm Rays
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. Veteran outfielder Raul Ibanez, who is still an active player, was the third finalist for the job. He withdrew his name from consideration this week. Maddon opted out of his contract with Rays on Oct. 24, later joining the Chicago Cubs as their new manager. Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg said Cash’s “energy and dynamic personality will fit seamlessly with our clubhouse.” A Tampa native, Cash is not a stranger to the AL 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 Arizona Diamondbacks have sent slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop Didi Gregorius to the New York Yankees in a three-team deal that included Detroit. The Tigers acquired right-handed pitcher Shane Greene from the Yankees and sent left-handed pitcher Robbie Ray and teenage infielder Domingo Leyba to Arizona. The Diamondbacks had a crowd at shortstop and chose to stick with youngsters Chris Owings and Nick Ahmed. The 24-year-old Gregorius hit .241 with 25 doubles, eight triples, 13 home runs and 55 RBI in 183 games over parts of two seasons with Arizona. Greene was 5-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 15 games, 14 of them starts, over four stints with the Yankees last season.
The New York Yankees announced Friday that they have signed left-handed relief pitcher Andrew Miller to a four-year deal through the 2018 season. Miller, 29, spent last season with Boston and Baltimore, finishing with a 2.02 earned run average overall. He had 103 strikeouts in 621/ innings against only 17 walks. In the postseason with Baltimore, he allowed only one hit and did not give up a run in 71/ innings over five appearances. Miller’s presence will give the Yankees a new end-of-game bullpen next season, with either Dellin Betances, or with Betances and closer David Robertson, who is a free agent. Miller’s signing could mean that the Yankees will not attempt to bring back Robertson, who is believed to want a four-year deal worth at least $40 million. The Miller deal was first reported by Jack Curry of the YES Network, who, citing a source involved in the negotiations, reported that the four-year deal was worth $36 million.
Former pitcher Ryan Dempster is retiring with the Chicago Cubs and joining their front office. The Cubs announced the move on Friday. Dempster, who played 16 years in the majors, will serve as a special assistant to president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer. He will spend time with the Cubs in spring training, visit their minor league affiliates during the season, evaluate amateur players leading up to the draft and perform professional scouting assignments. Dempster, an All-Star with the Miami Marlins and Cubs, played in Chicago from 2004 to 2012.