More on Showalter's Baseball America award

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

December 04, 2014, 8:27am

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The Orioles sent out a release today confirming that Buck Showalter has been named Baseball America's Manager of the Year.

I wrote a few days ago that the publication doesn't usually promote the award with an online article, but one has been posted this year. You can read it here.

Showalter becomes the third manager to be recognized with the award twice, having also won it in 2012, since Baseball America began giving the honor in 1998. He joins Bobby Cox (2004 and 2010) and Mike Scioscia (2002 and 2009).

Showalter also was the recipient of the publication's inaugural Minor League Manager of the Year award in 1989.

Baseball America already chose Dan Duquette as its Major League Executive of the Year.

Showalter and Duquette paired to make the Orioles the third organization recognized with both awards in the same year, joining the 2006 Tigers (Dave Dombrowski and Jim Leyland) and 2001 Mariners (Pat Gillick and Lou Piniella).

Showalter often quips that he becomes a lot smarter when good players are added to the roster. I wonder how he's feeling about his IQ level this week.

Meanwhile, the Mariners announced Nelson Cruz's four-year deal today and the Tampa Bay Times is reporting that Raul Ibanez has withdrawn his name as a finalist for the Rays' managing job due to family considerations.

I reference Ibanez only because the Orioles tried to talk him into interviewing for their job as hitting coach, but he stated that he'd take a year off from baseball if unable to land the Rays' gig.