Sources: Rays hire Kevin Cash

— -- The Tampa Bay Rays have hired Kevin Cash as their new manager, sources told ESPN MLB Insider Tim Kurkjian on Friday.

Cash, who turns 37 on Saturday, has been the bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians for the past two seasons. Before that, the Tampa native spent 2012 as an advance scout for the Blue Jays.

"I have no doubt he'll thrive in the role whenever he gets the opportunity," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti told the Tampa Bay Times last week.

Cash played for Tampa Northside in the 1989 Little League World Series and was a big league catcher for eight seasons with Toronto, Tampa Bay, Boston, the New York Yankees and Houston from 2002 to 2010.

He had a career batting average of .183 with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs.

Cash was chosen over Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu to replace Joe Maddon, who opted out of his contract Oct. 24 and became manager of the Chicago Cubs.