Tampa Bay Rays extend contracts of Kevin Cash, Erik Neander

The Tampa Bay Rays have extended the contracts of manager Kevin Cash and Erik Neander, the president of baseball operations, the team announced Thursday.

"I believe there are none better in baseball," said Stuart Sternberg, the team's principal owner, in a team statement. "What we've all accomplished together has been remarkable, and the best is yet to come."

Terms of the deals were not disclosed, but according to the Tampa Bay Times, the two are expected to stay with the Rays at least through the planned opening of a new stadium in 2028.

Cash, 46, has guided the Rays to a combined 739-617 record in his nine years on the job. They won the American League pennant in the pandemic-abridged 2020 season before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

Since then, the small-payroll Rays have failed to win a playoff series despite winning 100 games in 2021 and 99 in 2023. The Texas Rangers swept Tampa Bay 2-0 in the AL wild-card round last season.

Neander, 40, largely has been credited with leading the way to regular season success despite financial limitations.

Neander has been with the Rays since starting as an intern in 2007 and promptly being hired as a full-time employee. He was promoted to director of baseball operations in November 2011 and president of baseball operations in September 2021.