Renteria signs on to manage White Sox

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Rick Renteria is getting a second chance to manage in Chicago, this time on the South Side.

The White Sox promoted Renteria from bench coach to replace Robin Ventura on Monday, hoping he can help turn around a struggling franchise.

Renteria takes over a team with one playoff appearance since the 2005 championship year. And he gets another opportunity after the Cubs unceremoniously let him go after the 2014 season so they could hire Joe Maddon.

“I’m extremely excited,” Renteria said. “It’s a little bittersweet because I became good friends with Robin.”

The White Sox noted that Renteria is the only Latino manager in the majors and touted his ability to communicate in English and Spanish.

General manager Rick Hahn said the organization might have found candidates as good — but none better — had they looked elsewhere. He also insisted Renteria would be the right man to lead the team whether it is undergoing a major overhaul or trying to contend. To that end, Hahn said the White Sox know which way they want to go; he just wasn’t about to reveal it.