Kevin Cash Retires, Joins Blue Jays As MLB Advance Scout

According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, former Blue Jays catcher Kevin Cash has officially retired, drawing his 12-year professional career to a close.

After being traded by the Jays in 2004, Cash returns to Toronto as a Major League advance scout for the upcoming season. Though Cash’s new position with the Jays represents the first non-playing baseball job of his career, Cafardo implies that it suits the 34-year-old, adding that he’s “one of those guys you always thought would wind up being a Major League manager.”

Signed by the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1999, Cash seemed set to have a bright Major League future. After holding his own playing A-level ball in his first season as a pro, Cash broke out with High-A Dunedin in 2001, hitting .283 with 27 doubles, 12 home runs and a .822 OPS en route to capturing Florida State League All-Star honors. Then, as a 24-year-old the following year, Cash clobbered 33 doubles and 18 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A before making his Major League debut.

He didn’t just impress offensively in the minor leagues, though, as he finished with a career 51% caught-stealing rate in 313 chances as a member of the Blue Jays organization. Though he threw out 38% of baserunners during his time in the big leagues with the Jays, Cash was unfortunately unable to transfer his minor league offensive success to the Majors, as he finished with a career .173 average and .485 OPS in 329 plate appearances from 2002-04. After being traded to Tampa Bay in December 2004, Cash also spent time with the Red Sox, Yankees, and Astros.

Cash spent the 2011 season playing for the Round Rock Express, Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and hit .244 with a .721 OPS in 85 games.

-JM

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