White Sox, Renteria agree to split after breakout season
CHICAGO » Rick Renteria fostered a culture that allowed young players to develop into stars. And just like the last time, he lost his job after helping start a turnaround.
The Chicago White Sox and their manager agreed to split following a disappointing finish to a breakout season in which they made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.
Chicago announced Monday that Renteria won’t return after he led the White Sox to a 35-25 record in his pandemicshortened fourth season. They ended a string of seven consecutive losing seasons with.their first playoff appearance since 2008.
“This is not how we wanted this to end,” general manager Rick Hahn said. “We wanted it to end with Ricky leading us to championships. That was the intent from the start. Over time, through very candid and quite frankly personal conversations about where this organization is, what our time horizon is, what we need to do to win in October and get to that final, ultimate goal, it became evident that it was time to make a change.”
Don Cooper, who had been pitching coach since July 2002, also was let go. He had spent more than three decades with the organization.
Chicago lead the AL Central by three games before losing seven of its final eight and finishing tied for second with Cleveland at 35-25, one game behind Minnesota. Chicago got knocked out by Oakland in three games in their firstround series.
Renteria drew criticism for his lineups as well as his handling of pitchers, par ticularly down the stretch.
“Thank you to Ricky and Coop for everything they have done for White Sox organization,” pitcher Dallas Keuchel tweeted. “I will continue their passion for winning and wish them all the best in their new beginnings!”
Hahn said Renteria’s replacement probably will come from outside the White Sox. He said would like someone who has worked for a championship organization, though major league managing experience is not necessarily a requirement.
Renteria became the franchise’s 40th manager when he was promoted from bench coach to replace Robin Ventura in October 2016. He led the White Sox to a 236309 record and helped establish a winning culture that fostered the development of the team’s young players.
Renteria also managed the crosstown Cubs in 2014 and drew praise for his work with young players. The North Siders planned to bring him back, only to let him go once Joe Maddon split with Tampa Bay.
Maddon made the playoffs in four of five years and managed the 2016 team to the franchise’s first World Series title since 1908. He just completed his first season with the Los Angeles Angels.