Cash has learned to expect unexpected

Ask Kevin Cash what advice he’d give someone who’s about to take over a Major League team and who’s never managed at any level, and there’s little hesitation.

“Prepare yourself for the unexpected,” Cash said, followed by a chuckle.

Cash, of course, is that person. He took over the Rays two years ago and had never even managed a Little League team.

Now, Cash is approaching his third season as Tampa Bay’s manager, and he is the first to tell you that preparing for the unexpected is virtually impossible. He’s still MLB’s youngest skipper.

At times during Cash’s rookie year, the Rays played like a contender. Most of the summer, he pushed the right buttons. Tampa Bay ended 80-82, and there was enormous optimism for 2016.

But the unexpected took over.

The Rays’ vaunted starting pitching was dreadful in the early going. The bullpen was summoned far too early, became burned out, and you can fill in the blanks.

On May 20, with a victory over Detroit, the Rays were a game over .500 at 20-19 — the high point of the summer. After that, the season gradually crumbled. Between June 16-July 16, the Rays won just three of 27 games, the worst stretch in the franchise’s history.

There were losing streaks of 11 and eight games. Tampa Bay tumbled to the American League East’s basement with a 68-94 record, its fewest wins since 2007. The Rays were one of three Major League teams unable to win in games they trailed after eight innings.

Now, as Cash and the brain trust prepare for next week’s Winter Meetings, 2016 has been dissected to the smallest degree.

Because Tampa Bay is such a low-revenue franchise, major moves are limited.

• Rays head to Meetings with open minds

I believe the Rays would have to be overwhelmed to part with key pieces such as pitcher Chris Archer or team leader Evan Longoria.

“We were all disappointed the way our season took shape and frankly …

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