PRESIDENT, BASEBALL OPERATIONS
Erik Neander (nee-ANN-der) was named president, baseball operations on Sept. 8, 2021 and enters his ninth season as the club’s top-ranking baseball official. As the leader of baseball operations, Erik collaborates with all areas of the department to set the vision and expectations for the entire operation. In addition to working to sustain a people-first culture, he directly oversees functional areas, including player evaluation and procurement, the major league coaching and support staff, and roster and staff management.
Neander, 42, begins his 20th season in the Rays organization. He joined the Rays as a baseball operations intern in January 2007 and was hired full-time in October 2007. He was later promoted to manager, baseball research and development in November 2009, director of baseball operations in November 2011, vice president of baseball operations in October 2014 and senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager on November 4, 2016. One year later, Matt Silverman shifted to team president after a three-year stretch as president of baseball operations.
With Neander as the club’s top-ranking baseball official, the Rays have made the postseason in five of eight seasons, including a club-record five consecutive postseason berths from 2019-23, one of four teams in the majors to accomplish the feat in each of those seasons along with the Astros, Braves and Dodgers. Since Neander took the helm ahead of the 2018 season, the Rays own the sixth-best winning percentage in baseball and third best in the AL at .559 (668-526), trailing only the Dodgers (.627), Astros (.591), Yankees (.584), Braves (.570) and Brewers (.567). He and his group assembled a club that finished with the best record in the AL in both 2020 and 2021.
In 2021, the Rays went 100-62 and set a club record for wins in a single season. For the second time in three years (2019), the Rays were recognized as Baseball America Organization of the Year. In the shortened 2020 season, Erik assembled a team that went 40-20 and reached the World Series. In 2019, the team’s accomplishments earned industry acclaim for both Neander and the organization. Erik was selected by his peers as Major League Baseball’s Executive of the Year and earned a similar honor from the Sporting News.
Every player on the current 40-man roster and 60-day IL has been acquired since Neander was appointed the club’s top-ranking baseball official, including 27 via trade. Among the trade acquisitions are pitchers Bryan Baker, Joe Boyle, Garrett Cleavinger, Griffin Jax, Ryan Pepiot and Drew Rasmussen. Also included are position players Junior Caminero, Jonny DeLuca, Hunter Feduccia, Nick Fortes, Gavin Lux, Jacob Melton, Richie Palacios, Ben Williamson, and 2023 AL batting champion Yandy Díaz. Of the 28 players on the Rays 2025 season-ending roster, 19 were acquired via trade.
From the conclusion of the last season through the beginning of 2026 spring training, Neander added 12 new players to the 40-man roster, including four free agents and eight trade acquisitions. He and his group completed 16 offseason trades, including a trio of three-team deals, involving nearly 40 players.
The Rays enter the 2026 season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 5 farm system in the game, the ninth consecutive season they have placed among the preseason’s top-10 systems and sixth time in the top-five during that streak. The publication placed four Rays prospects on its preseason top-100 list: Brody Hopkins (No. 37), Theo Gillen (No. 64), Jacob Melton (No. 70) and Carson Williams (No. 85). Entering the season, eight of the top 30 prospects in the Rays organization were added since the beginning of December via trades and international signings.
Prior to joining the Rays, Erik worked for Baseball Info Solutions. The Oneonta, N.Y. native graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s of science in food, nutrition and exercise. He and his wife, Jessica, reside in Tampa with their sons, Penn and Corbin; daughter, Eden; and their rescue animals.