Neander helped build a Rays team that made the playoffs despite having one of MLB's lowest payrollsGETTY IMAGES
Rays Senior VP & GM ERIK NEANDER was named MLB's Exec of the Year in a "vote of his peers." Neander was honored last night at the GM meetings in Scottsdale. Yankees Exec VP & GM BRIAN CASHMAN came in second, with A's Exec VP/Baseball Operations BILLY BEANE and Twins Exec VP & Chief Baseball Officer DEREK FALVEY "tied for third" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/12).
NAMES: Free agent 1B RYAN ZIMMERMAN celebrated winning the World Series with the Nationals with a "trip to pick out his own bourbon" at the Woodford Reserve distillery in Kentucky. Zimmerman selected his own barrels and plans to "give bottles celebrating the World Series win to each of his teammates" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 11/12)....KOBE BRYANT has written a young adult novel, "EPOCA: THE TREE OF ECROF," which focuses on track and field in a fictional land (THE DAILY).
IN MEMORY: Mortenson Construction Chair M.A. "MORT" MORTENSON died Saturday after a "monthslong battle with cancer" at 82. Mortenson helped "grow his family's Minnesota construction business into one of the largest general contractors in the world." Over the years, the contracting company has "become known for its diverse project portfolio," which has included venues like Target Field, U.S. Bank Stadium and Xcel Energy Center (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/12).
