ST. PETERSBURG -- Davey Martinez did not make the final cut for the Rays' vacated manager's post. Now, he has decided not to return in his role as the team's bench coach.Martinez released the following statement through team spokesman Rick Vaughn:
"I informed the Rays this week that I have chosen to move forward and consider other opportunities that may present themselves outside the organization. It was a hard decision that I think is best for myself and the Rays. I want to thank our fans for their overwhelming support. 
It has meant the world to my family and me. For the past nine years, the players and staff have been an extension of my family and the memories that we have all shared and the relationships that have been built will stay with me forever. I can't thank them enough for all they have meant to me."Martinez, 50, has spent the past seven seasons as the Rays' bench coach, standing next to departed Joe Maddon, who was named the Cubs' manager. He played 16 Major League seasons with nine teams and was an original Devil Ray. Given that experience, many felt he would be the logical choice for the transition to a Rays team without Maddon.Earlier in the offseason, veteran third baseman Evan Longoria told MLB Network that Martinez would bring a sense of continuity to the team."Seeing that there's been so much change this offseason already, they might not want to bring in further change," Longoria said. "[Martinez] would be the guy that could kind of smooth things over."Longoria added that Martinez had a feel for "what goes on in the clubhouse."Martinez had one more year left on his contract as the team's bench coach.The Rays narrowed their initial manager search from 10 candidates to three on Friday: Kevin Cash, Don Wakamatsu, and Raul Ibanez.They will begin their interviews with the final three on Dec. 1 and could have a manager in place by the Winter Meetings, which begin on Dec. 8 in San Diego.
Bill Chastain/ MLB.com
It has meant the world to my family and me. For the past nine years, the players and staff have been an extension of my family and the memories that we have all shared and the relationships that have been built will stay with me forever. I can't thank them enough for all they have meant to me."Martinez, 50, has spent the past seven seasons as the Rays' bench coach, standing next to departed Joe Maddon, who was named the Cubs' manager. He played 16 Major League seasons with nine teams and was an original Devil Ray. Given that experience, many felt he would be the logical choice for the transition to a Rays team without Maddon.Earlier in the offseason, veteran third baseman Evan Longoria told MLB Network that Martinez would bring a sense of continuity to the team."Seeing that there's been so much change this offseason already, they might not want to bring in further change," Longoria said. "[Martinez] would be the guy that could kind of smooth things over."Longoria added that Martinez had a feel for "what goes on in the clubhouse."Martinez had one more year left on his contract as the team's bench coach.The Rays narrowed their initial manager search from 10 candidates to three on Friday: Kevin Cash, Don Wakamatsu, and Raul Ibanez.They will begin their interviews with the final three on Dec. 1 and could have a manager in place by the Winter Meetings, which begin on Dec. 8 in San Diego.
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