After helping the Rays make the postseason for the first time since 2013 and forcing the eventual American League-champion Astros to a five-game series in the AL Division Series, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash was voted AL Manager of the Year by Sporting News. Rays general manager Erik Neander completed the sweep by taking home Executive of the Year honors.

Sporting News has given out Manager of the Year awards since 1936, which are voted on via a survey of AL managers. Cash appeared on four of the 12 recorded ballots. It was the third time a Rays manager has received the honor, following wins by Joe Maddon in 2008 and ‘11.

Cash deserves a lot of credit for managing individuals in the clubhouse and making key decisions with a pitching staff that was decimated by injury. Tommy Pham, Willy Adames and Charlie Morton were the only players that were on the active roster for 162 games.

The Rays also used a franchise-record 33 pitchers in 2019, as they won 96 regular season games. Cash and the Rays had to get creative because of injuries to Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yonny Chirinos. All the injuries forced the Rays to employ a bullpen game in Game 4 of the ALDS against Justin Verlander and the Astros. They used six pitchers en route to a 4-1 win.

• Rays eager to build on ALDS berth

While Cash was the man behind the moves on the bench, Neander helped construct the team and built enough depth within the organization to help the Rays get back to the postseason.

Neander and the front office acquired Travis d'Arnaud, Nick Anderson, Trevor Richards, Jesús Aguilar and Eric Sogard throughout the season, which all proved to be good additions. The Rays used 57 players, which also marked a franchise record.

The Rays GM was named on six of the 25 recorded ballots, receiving a plurality of votes and edging Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, who received five votes. Neander becomes the first Rays executive to win the award since Andrew Friedman in 2008.

Baseball Writers’ Association of America will reveal the AL Manager of the Year Award winner on Nov. 12.