The Tampa Bay Rays had a few positions on their Major League coaching and developmental coaching staff that had to be filled after people were poached this offseason.
The Washington Nationals hired Blake Butera to become their new manager after he spent years with the Rays organization. He began his tenure with the franchise in 2018, at the age of 25, managing a minor league affiliate.
Managerial roles were held until 2023, when he was named assistant field coordinator for Tampa Bay. In 2024, he was promoted to senior director of player development. That role was held in 2025 before the Nationals hired him away.
Joining Butera in Washington is Rays first base coach, Michael Johns. He was hired as Washington’s bench coach after spending three years in that position with Tampa Bay.
Rays hiring Corey Dickerson as first base coach