Tampa Bay Rays Promote Two New VPs Following Friedman Departure

The Tampa Bay Rays have promoted two top assistants, Chaim Bloom and Erik Neander, to vice presidents of baseball operations, as the Rays continue to to fill the void left by former general manager Andrew Friedman.

Andrew Friedman left the Tampa Bay Rays late last week to join the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team’s president, and the Rays have continued to promote from within to fill the void in their front office. On Friday, the Rays promoted directors Chaim Bloom and Erik Neander to vice presidents of baseball operations, and will assist new president of baseball operations Matt Silverman in leading the Rays.

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The Rays will continue to turn to bring young minds to run their franchise, as both Bloom and Neander are 31-years old, with Bloom first joining the Rays in February 2005, and Neander came on board in January 2007. Bloom focuses development, international scouting, contract negotiation and roster management, and Neander’s expertise is in player personnel and research and development, though both will assist Silverman in any necessary capacity.

Friedman won’t be bringing Rays manager Joe Maddon with him to LA, at least not for the 2015 season, and the Rays will continue to try to work out an extension with their longtime manager.

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