Erik Neander and Chaim Bloom get expanded roles with Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Erik Neander has been promoted to senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays under

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Erik Neander has been promoted to senior vice president of baseball operations and general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays under president of baseball operations Matt Silverman.

Neander, 33, will oversee player evaluation and procurement. Chaim Bloom, also 33, will serve alongside Neander in an expanded role as senior vice president of baseball operations. Both had been vice presidents.

Silverman has headed the Rays' baseball operations since Andrew Friedman left in October 2014 for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

''Erik and Chaim are talented, accomplished baseball executives with longstanding service to our organization. These promotions recognize their expanded leadership roles in the department,'' Silverman said in a statement Friday. ''This evolution is one that we envisioned two years ago. I'm proud to work together with Erik and Chaim and empower them to direct the operations of our department.''

Neander, a Virginia Tech graduate, started with the Rays as an intern in 2007. Bloom, a Yale graduate, began with the Rays as an intern in 2005.

James Click was promoted to vice president of baseball operations.