Nov. 11--The White Sox officially named former Cubs manager Rick Renteria as Robin Ventura's new bench coach, while naming former A's minor-league coach Greg Sparks as their assistant hitting coach.
General manager Rick Hahn said Renteria was one of three finalists interviewed to replace Mark Parent, and that Renteria declined an offer to join the staff in December after the Cubs replaced him with Joe Maddon.
Hahn downplayed speculation Renteria eventually would replace Ventura, who is in the final year of his contract.
"Internally we don't get too hung up on contract status or what's going to happen in the future," Hahn said. "It's more about trying to win that next ballgame and putting us in the best position to win. We feel like we have made the organization stronger with these two additions."
Renteria, 53, guided the Cubs to a 73-89 record and fifth-place finish in 2014, his only season of managing after signing a three-year deal. The Cubs will continue to pay his contract through 2016, minus his Sox salary.
Cubs President Theo Epstein recently told the Tribune that Renteria's firing was a "moral dilemma."
"We had to choose between being loyal to Ricky, who had done a good job, and being loyal to the organization, because Joe was so obviously the right person, out of everyone in the country, maybe on the planet," Epstein said.
Renteria is expected to discuss his firing publicly for the first time Wednesday during a conference call.
Sparks, who replaces Harold Baines, is the son of former Sox infielder Joe Sparks. He spent 19 seasons in the A's organization, most recently as minor-league hitting coordinator. Todd Steverson worked with Sparks in the A's organization before becoming the Sox hitting coach.
