ST. PETERSBURG -- For the third consecutive season, Rays manager Kevin Cash is among the three finalists for American League Manager of the Year, which is decided by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Cash finished third in each of the past two seasons, but the Rays’ skipper makes a very strong case to join Joe Maddon as the only managers in franchise history to be recognized with the award.

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Former Rays bench coach and current Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo and former White Sox manager Rick Renteria are the other two finalists.

Though the season ended with criticism following the decision to pull a locked-in Blake Snell for reliever Nick Anderson in the Game 6 loss to the Dodgers in the World Series, Cash’s contributions to the Rays’ success this season should not be overlooked.

Cash helped the Rays navigate through a challenging 2020 season, arguably the toughest campaign in Major League history. He led the Rays to a 40-20 record in the regular season and continued that success in the postseason, helping Tampa Bay reach the second World Series in franchise history. But it wasn’t easy.

The Rays had 12 pitchers on the injured list at one point during the regular season, with five of them going down for the season. Cash had to guide the Rays through the injuries, using 24 different pitchers in 2020. Cash and the Rays also had to overcome extended absences from Austin Meadows, Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Díaz. Cash used 59 different lineups in the 60-game season.

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Cash also made more in-game moves than most managers. He used 4.7 pitchers per game, which was more than league average. He also pinch-hit more than any manager in the AL, using 1.15 pinch-hitters per game. Cash also constructed the only all-lefty lineup in Major League history this season and asked 12 different pitchers to record a save, tying the 1973 Rangers for the most since saves became an official stat in 1969.

Over the last three seasons, Cash has helped the Rays go 226-158 with two postseason appearances. His .522 winning percentage in his six seasons with the Rays is the highest for any manager in franchise history.

“The scrutiny you’re under as a manager and the pressure you’re under, but the way he handles it with his emotional consistency, who he is as a person and the energy he brings to the field every day, it’s very, very relaxed,” said Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow. “It’s unique because in the Minors, you could tell managers were stressed. But with him, I don’t know what it is, you have fun at the ballpark and he has as much fun as anybody else. He handles the stress extremely well, and I think that relays into the players.”

Cash’s influence inside the clubhouse is something players pointed to as to why they believe he’s deserving of the award. His relaxed personality has helped a young Rays team establish itself as one of the best teams in the AL over the past three seasons.

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Despite his calm demeanor, Cash isn’t afraid to stand up for his clubhouse. That was evident in September when Cash defended Mike Brosseau and the Rays after Aroldis Chapman threw a 101 mph fastball over the infielder’s head. Cash’s comments -- "I have a whole damn stable full of guys that throw 98 mph, period" -- became a rallying point inside the Rays’ clubhouse, with the bullpen referring to themselves as “The Stable.”

“When you look at it, it’s the Yankees, everybody has that mutual respect for the pinstripes,” said Rays catcher Mike Zunino. “But as a young group, hearing that coming from the manager’s mouth helps us know that we can hang with just about anybody. He believes it; it really sparked us.”