Rays' Neander wins Executive of the Year

Tampa Bay Rays general manager Erik Neander was named Major League Baseball's Executive of the Year for the 2019 campaign, the league announced Monday.

"I am both humbled and honored to be recognized by MLB and the executives who voted on the award," Neander said, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "This recognition deserves to be shared across our entire staff, as well as the players who left it all on the field."

New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman finished second, while Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics and Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins tied for third.

The Rays finished with a 96-66 record and made the postseason despite owning the lowest payroll in baseball. Tampa Bay signed right-hander Charlie Morton and outfielder Avisail Garica in free agency and traded for infielder Yandy Diaz and reliever Emilio Pagan last offseason.

The award was voted on by a representative from all 30 major-league clubs.