White Sox: 2019 Will Be Important Year for Rick Renteria

Current White Sox manager hasn’t had a winning season in his MLB managerial career. 2019 will be an important year for the manager in guiding the team.

The White Sox haven’t had a winning season since 2012. Robin Ventura was the manager at the time but would never come close to managing the Sox to another winning season. Rick Renteria replaced Ventura as manager after the 2016 season and hasn’t had a team talented enough to finish a season .500 or better.

Entering the 2019 season, the White Sox could have one of their better teams in quite some time. Especially if Manny Machado agrees to sign with the Sox. The Sox front office has been aggressive in adding talent through free agent signings and trades. With a better team, Renteria could possibly guide the Sox to a better result in the standings this season.

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White Sox general manager Rick Hahn addressed many needs for the team this offseason. Every signing or trade made by the Sox this offseason hasn’t resulted in the acquisition of superstar players, yet. But acquisitions by the Sox have addressed needs for the team while not blocking any potential prospects from being promoted in the coming years.

Renteria will likely enter the 2019 season with the best Sox team he’s managed thus far. It doesn’t necessarily mean the Sox will contend for the postseason, with or without Machado. But Renteria could be judged appropriately on how well he manages this season. With an improved team, Renteria can’t finish this year with a record well below .500.

The Sox don’t have to reach the postseason in 2019 in order to have a successful year. Although Renteria hasn’t managed any team in his MLB managerial career to a winning season, 2019 could be the first year he avoids a losing season.

Renteria will be managing his third season with the Sox and has familiarity with many current players. He’s established a good clubhouse culture and players respond to him well, even when they’ve been benched for lack of hustle. However, if Renteria is unable to have a successful year as Sox manager, it wouldn’t be surprising if the front office went in a different direction for 2020.

Omar Vizquel could be a future manager and has already been promoted through the Sox farm system after a successful year as manager with High-A Winston-Salem. If Renteria has another unsuccessful season with the Sox, his potential replacement could already be within the Sox organization.