early postseason exit has become a reality. Los Angeles hired Rays GM Andrew Friedman to be president of baseball operations and bumped Ned Colletti to a senior advisor role.

Friedman, 37, was named GM and executive vice president of the Rays following the 2005 season. The team was successful under his leadership despite operating under one of baseball’s lowest payrolls. Tampa Bay made it to four postseason appearances under Friedman, including two division titles (2008, 2010). The Rays posted the franchise’s first winning season and won the American League pennant in 2008, when he was named Sporting News’ Executive of the Year.

“Andrew Friedman is one of the youngest and brightest minds in the game today and we are very fortunate to have him join our organization,” Dodger President and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. “The success he has had over the past nine years in molding the Tampa Bay Rays team has been incredible.”

In joining the Dodgers, Friedman will have baseball’s highest payroll of $256 million at his disposal.

Friedman is a former Wall Street analyst who joined the Rays in 2004 and worked as director of baseball development during his first two years. Under Friedman, the Rays posted the franchise’s first winning season and won the American League pennant in 2008.

The Rays finished under .500 in each of their first 10 years of existence before finishing above .500 under Friedman from 2008-13.

This season, however, the Rays finished fourth in the AL East with a 77-85 record after trading away ace David Price to the Detroit Tigers.

Colletti spent nine years as GM of the Dodgers. The team reached the postseason five times and won four division titles, but had early playoff exits the last two years, including last week when they lost their National League Division Series to St. Louis in four games, which triggered speculation that Colletti’s job was in jeopardy.

Kasten said Colletti’s knowledge and experience will be an asset as the Dodgers continue to build their farm system.

The Rays acted swiftly to replace Friedman as the team’s president of baseball operations, saying long-time club president Matt Silverman will fill the position.

Senior vice president of baseball operations Brian Auld moved into Silverman’s old job.

RANGERS TRIM SEARCH LIST

The Rangers have named three finalists for their vacant managerial post: bench coach Tim Bogar, Pirates bench coach Jeff Banister and Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash, ESPN Dallas reports.

Bogar, 47, led Texas to a 14-8  mark after taking over as interim manager when Ron Washington resigned on Sept. 5. He played in the majors from 1993 to 2001 for the Mets, Astros and Dodgers. He managed in the minor league systems of the Astros and Indians, winning manager of the year honors three times. He also has coached for the Rays and Red Sox.

The team was 53-87 under Washington and finished in last place in the American League West.

Banister had one big league at-bat (and one hit) in 1991. He has many years of experience as a minor league coach and manager and major-league coach with the Pirates.

Cash, who would be the youngest manager in the majors if he is hired, played in 246 games for six teams over eight seasons from 2002 to 2010. He has been a Cleveland coach for the past two seasons.

None of the three has ever managed in the majors.

Eliminated from the job search: Steve Buechele, 53, manager of Rangers Triple-A affiliate; Alex Cora, 38, ESPN analyst and 14-year MLB veteran who last played in 2011; Torey Lovullo, 49, Red Sox bench coach; Mike Maddux, 53, Rangers pitching coach; and Joe McEwing, 41, White Sox third base coach.

TIGERS OUTLINE OFFSEASON PLANS

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski says he would like to address the team’s center-field situation and bullpen after Detroit won its fourth straight AL Central title but was swept out of the playoffs in the division series.

Detroit’s relief pitching was shaky all season, especially during the ALDS loss to Baltimore. The Tigers traded center fielder Austin Jackson in the deadline deal that brought star left-hander David Price to Detroit. Rajai Davis, Ezequiel Carrera and Don Kelly played center after that.

Dombrowski says he’d be interested in a lefty-hitting center fielder who could be platooned with Davis — or someone who might be able to play center full time.

Contributors: Justin McGuire, The Associated Press