White Sox, Renteria part ways Pietrangelo joins Vegas on 7-year deal

CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox and manager Rick Renteria have agreed to split following a disappointing finish to a breakout season in which the team made the playoffs for the first time in 12 years.

The White Sox announced Monday that Renteria won’t return after he led them to a 35-25 record in his pandemic-shortened fourth year. They ended a string of seven consecutive losing seasons with their first playoff appearance since 2008.

The team and longtime pitching coach Don Cooper also agreed to part.

The White Sox held a threegame lead in the AL Central before losing seven of their final eight to finish tied for second with Cleveland at 35-25, one behind Minnesota. Chicago then got knocked out by Oakland in three games in their wild-card series.

Renteria drew criticism for some questionable decisions down the stretch. And now, he and the White Sox are moving on.

General manager Rick Hahn described Renteria as a “fantastic baseball man” and “better person” whose “fingerprints” will be all over the White Sox if they win a championship. Padres’ Pham OK after stabbing: San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham was injured in an altercation Sunday night in San Diego and underwent surgery for a stab wound in his lower back, the team and player said Monday. No organs were damaged, and Pham received stitches to close the wound that pierced all three layers of skin.

Alex Pietrangelo is Vegas bound, and the Golden Knights are shuffling the deck to fit him in.

Pietrangelo signed a $61.6 million, seven-year deal with Vegas that carries an $8.8 million annual salary cap hit through 2027. It’s the fifth-biggest cap hit for a defenseman in the NHL.

Adding the top free agent available forces Vegas to shed salary to add him. Before registering Pietrangelo’s contract, the Golden Knights traded defenseman Nate Schmidt to the Vancouver Canucks for a 2022 thirdround pick, clearing his $5.95 million cap hit off the books.

The 30-year-old Pietrangelo leaves the St. Louis Blues after serving as captain of their 2019 Stanley Cup championship team.

Rangers sign top pick: The New York Rangers agreed to terms on a three-year, entry-level deal with No. 1 draft pick Alexis Lafreniere, who is expected to play in the NHL when next season starts. Lafreniere signed a day after turning 19.