Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander becomes two-time MLB Executive of the Year

Erik Neander is the Rays’ president of baseball operations and the second recipient of MLB’s Executive of the Year Award to win it twice, after being honored again on Wednesday night at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards in Las Vegas.

According to the league’s Rays-organized recap, Neander’s back-to-back partnership with top Rays decision-makers is shaped by a front office rule set by the current ownership leadership group, with Patrick Zalupski describing limits on owners’ direct influence over baseball operations.

The Executive of the Year Award is decided by a vote of executives from all 30 teams, and the Rays’ release says Neander previously won the award in 2019, making his latest selection the second such honor in his career.

The Rays’ team context matters to the award argument: the organization says Neander and manager Kevin Cash led an unexpected AL run that included a division title, the best record in the American League, and the Rays’ third pennant.

The Rays’ award case also points to roster-building activity over the year. The release credits Neander-led moves that brought in contributors via free agency and multiple trades, and it also cites additions such as Nick Martinez (one-year deal) and a list of trade-deadline and offseason acquisitions that helped reshape the roster.