Rays Formally Move Matt Silverman Back To Business Side; Neander To Run Baseball Ops

The Rays have "made official the changes at the top of their organization," with President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman returning to the business side and Senior VP/Baseball Operations & GM Erik Neander "assuming the top spot in baseball operations," according to Marc Topkin of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Silver will resume his title as Rays President alongside current President Brian Auld. Both will "serve as presidents -- not co-presidents -- and share duties and responsibilities in providing oversight to the entire organization on internal and external matters." Silverman had been team President before shifting to the baseball side in October '14 following the departure of Andrew Friedman to the Dodgers. He was "expected to eventually transition back to the business/administrative side, and last year started doing less of the day to day work to focus on bigger picture issues." Meanwhile, Neander will work "closely" with Senior VP/Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom on the baseball side (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/10).