THE APEX TIMES
Tampa Bay will be represented across the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s major awards races, with three finalists set to be revealed on consecutive nights on MLB Network.
The Tampa Bay Rays will have three chances at Baseball Writers’ Association of America postseason hardware, with Junior Caminero, Kevin Cash and Bryan Baker named finalists for the AL MVP, AL Manager of the Year and AL Reliever of the Year awards.
Caminero is a finalist for the AL MVP and has already guaranteed himself the highest MVP finish in franchise history. MLB reported that he will finish no worse than third, with the Rays’ previous best MVP placements coming from Evan Longoria and Yandy Díaz.
Kevin Cash is also among the finalists for AL Manager of the Year. MLB noted that a win would give Cash a rare third AL Manager of the Year award, following his 2020 and 2021 victories, and he is listed alongside White Sox manager Will Venable and Red Sox manager Chad Tracy.
For the AL Reliever of the Year award, Bryan Baker is a finalist. MLB reported that Baker tied for the Major League lead in saves with 41 and posted a 1.44 ERA, and he will be competing against Guardians closer Cade Smith and Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland.
MLB’s Rays report tied Baker’s case to his late-season conversion rate and postseason run: MLB noted Baker did not blow a save after May 13, then recorded a streak of 30 consecutive converted save opportunities to close the regular season, and followed that with nine postseason appearances in which he did not allow a run over 10 innings.