The rise, and success, of Kevin Cash

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Here’s a man who never managed one game of baseball before his Call to the Show, languished among several major league clubs and banished to the minors. Then, in an unusual set of circumstances, at age 37, Kevin Cash was handed keys to the kingdom and, subsequently, managed to impressive heights.

Entering his 11^th season managing the Tampa Bay Rays and a native of the Tampa Bay area, Cash does not attract the media attention of Aaron Boone nor enshrinement within baseball’s hallow chambers. While friendly and affable, Cash remains a careful observer of the game and seems to continually reinvent himself.  

On May 4, 2024, the Rays defeated the New York Mets, 3-1 at Tropicana Field. With the victory, Cash recorded his 755th win as a Rays manager and passed Joe Maddon as the franchise’s all-time managerial wins leader. 

Currently, he trails only Bruce Bochy, Bob Melvin, Bud Black, and Dave Roberts among active managers for most career victories.

The one variable of Cash’s admirable qualities remains is a broad level of consistency.

Unwavering, resolute and industrious, Cash, at 47-years-old, has compiled a litany of achievements which makes owner Stuart Sternberg coming back for more. Tucked away amid palm trees and the warm water of the gulf, Cash is far removed from everyday baseball conversation and distant from any popular discussions about the game.

All he has done is lead the Rays to five consecutive post-season appearances (between 2019 and 2023, named finalist for manager-of-the-year five times within a six-year period and won a myriad of accolades

“There is an authenticity to (Cash),” said Erik Neander, the Rays’ president of baseball operation. “There’s a confidence and humility that is really, really difficult to find, and it’s incredibly authentic. The reason why we went to him years ago and despite never managing a game, there was a consistency to his energy, his love for baseball, the care, the confidence, and the humility.”

What tends to move Cash apart from most managing in the majors today is the need, and most times, the requirement, to disagree and create another path. This dimension has allowed Cash to develop a posture of innovation. While the game of baseball has rarely changed over the past century and a quarter, Cash’s introduction of “the opener” has brought about revolutionary thinking.

Early in the 2018 season, and Cash’s fourth season as skipper of Tampa Bay, the Rays languished with a 15-19 record. On May 19, Cash turned closer to Sergio Romo to start a game against the Angels in Anaheim. Romo went only one inning, struck out the side, and gave way to lefty Ryan Yarborough, who pitched 6.1 innings and picked up a 5-3 win. From that point, Cash was instrumental in utilizing “the opener,” and the Rays’ team ERA dropped. Later that season, Dodgers, Twins, A’s, and Rangers were influenced by Cash’s advance in the game and began implementation of “the opener” concept.

“You try and put players in the best position to have success and in that spot, to put a reliever in the best position to have confidence,” Neander added. “The willingness to try this was born out of several reasons, (Cash) deserves credit for doing it because it doesn’t work, he’ll take the heat for not working. We didn’t know if this would work out, but we had every reason to give it a shot. Look, this helped several players find success.”

Given Neander’s view of Cash’s composite personality of humility, resolve and the ability to adapt, Cash prefers to remain in the corner of the dugout and unnoticed. While he has a proven track record of success, a World Series championship remains elusive

“I like to think that I continue to learn,” Cash said earlier this spring. “Players change, personalities, and mindsets change. We try and do everything we can to help support each player. I don’t think that the game has changed that much, and I think there are different pressures. There are added pressures. We talk about 15, 20 years ago, that was different. Now, it’s other pressures of their own. There’s the social media aspect and everything is covered in today’s game. That matters to players and if they care about it, I should care about it.”

While awards fill up Cash’s trophy case, one prize remains far out of reach. Cash guided the Rays to the 2020 Series and lost in six games to the Dodgers. Still, no championship ring. The 2024 season marked the first time in six years that the Rays did not qualify for post-season play and Cash wants to think another run of post-season appearances is about to commence.

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