ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays aren’t wary of Kevin Cash’s age and inexperience.

The team tabbed the former Cleveland Indians bullpen coach as Joe Maddon’s replacement on Friday, selecting him over ex-Seattle Mariners manager and current Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu.

The Tampa native who turns 37 on Saturday has no previous managerial experience, yet the Rays are confident he has what it takes to be successful.

“It came down to the energy, the poise that he has, the confidence, but the open-mindedness that goes along with it. That’s a rare combination to have in an individual,” president of baseball operations Matt Silverman said.

Cash wowed the team during a final interview that lasted half-a-day. He becomes the youngest active manager in the majors, taking over a team that made the playoffs four of the past seven seasons under Maddon.

“After 12 hours we were pretty drained and it felt like Kevin was just getting started,” Silverman said.

A former catcher who played with five major league teams, including 13 games for Tampa Bay in 2005, Cash served as Terry Francona’s bullpen coach in Cleveland the past two seasons.

He also interviewed recently for the vacant managerial position with the Texas Rangers. He thought that experience helped when the Rays included him on an initial list of 10 candidates.

“It wasn’t something I was anticipating at this stage. But as I started preparing for the Texas opportunity, I almost kind of gained momentum, gained some confidence,” Cash said. “I was able to really process some thoughts.”

Tampa Bay went 754-705 in nine seasons under Maddon, making the playoffs four times, winning two AL East championships and the 2008 AL pennant — all while operating under the constraints of one of baseball’s lowest payrolls.

The Rays finished 77-85 this year, ending a stretch of six consecutive winning seasons. Maddon was under contract through 2015, but exercised an option to leave when talks on a new deal broke down and joined the Chicago Cubs.

“The voice is obviously probably going to change a little bit, but the players and the personnel, and the culture, what they created, that is something that I’m extremely fortunate to be a part of and join in on,” Cash said.

Yanks strike deal with Miller, acquire Gregorius

NEW YORK (AP) — The Yankees made their first big moves to reshape for 2015, acquiring a shortstop to replace Derek Jeter and a relief pitcher who could take over from David Robertson as closer.

As part of a three-team trade, the Yankees obtained shortstop Didi Gregorius from Arizona and dealt right-hander Shane Greene to Detroit. A few hours later, they agreed to a $36 million, four-year contract with reliever Andrew Miller.

New York is uncertain whether it will re-sign Robertson, who had 39 saves in his first season after replacing retired great Mariano Rivera as closer. A free agent, Robertson is expected to command a four-year deal at a much bigger price than Miller.

“I can’t predict yet as his free agency continues where he’s going to land,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “I certainly would not allude to the level of our participation. We’ve been in touch with his agency, and I’ll just leave it at that.”

A 29-year-old left-hander who is an imposing 6-foot-7, Miller held opponents to a .153 batting average this year while going 5-5 with a 2.02 ERA for Boston and Baltimore. He averaged 14.87 strikeouts per nine innings, second in the major leagues behind Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman (17.67) among pitchers who faced at least 50 batters.

Cashman said Miller turned down a $40 million, four-year offer from a team he didn’t specify. He called Miller “a high-end weapon to go along with what we already had and what we’re collecting” and said the Yankees didn’t commit to using him as closer.

“It’s protecting us. It gives us some diversification there,” Cashman said.

Gregorius, a 24-year-old left-handed hitter who was born in Amsterdam and raised in Curacao, becomes the favorite to take over at shortstop following Jeter’s retirement. Gregorius hit his first big league homer at Yankee Stadium in April 2013 in his first at-bat with the Diamondbacks but lost the starting shortstop job to Chris Owings during spring training this year and was sent to the minors.

He was recalled when Cliff Pennington tore a thumb ligament and became the regular shortstop when Owings injured a shoulder. Gregorius batted .226 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 80 games this year but hit .137 (7 for 51) against left-handers.

“At the very least we expect him to be utilized in probably a platoon with Brendan Ryan until he separates himself,” Cashman said.