San Diego Padres bench coach Rick Renteria has agreed to a three-year deal to be the manager for the Chicago Cubs. He replaces Dale Sveum, who was fired after two seasons.
There are club options in the deal for 2017 and 2018.Terms of the deal were not revealed. Renteria has been with the Padres for the last six years, and had been their bench coach since 2011. He also coached and managed for the Florida Marlins. Renteria is a form infielder who played in the majors for five seasons after he was 20th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1980, according to ESPN Chicago. In March Renteria managed Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.
The Cubs want Renteria to help in the development of young players and lead them to their first championship since 1908, according to the Associated Press. The lack of young player development led to the firing of Sveum. The Cubs had wanted Joe Girardi, who is an Illinois native, as their new manager, but he signed a four-year contract that worth up to $20 million to stay with the New York Yankees. Former Mariners and Indians manager Eric Wedge, Tampa Bay Rays bench coach Dave Martinez, former Nationals and Indians manager Manny Acta, and former Diamondbacks managers A.J. Hinch and Brad Ausmus, were also interviewed by the Cubs besides Renteria.
The Cubs went 66-96 this season and finished in last place in the NL Central for the first time in seven years.