Renteria Introduced
By Matt Kalman
The Boston Herald
December 18, 2004
Although he hasn't spoken to any of his new Red Sox teammates
yet, Edgar
Renteria said he'd like to get fellow snowbird Manny Ramirez to ``teach
him to
hit'' when they speak this week in Miami.
Of course, if the 29-year-old shortstop really needed batting
lessons, he
wouldn't be $40 million richer and getting ready to replace fellow
Colombian
Orlando Cabrera in the middle of the Sox infield.
The former St. Louis Cardinals Gold Glover was introduced
yesterday in a
press conference at Fenway Park, after he passed his physical, and it
was
announced that he agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal.
Boston holds a club option for a fifth year at $11 million, or
the Sox can
buy out the contract for $3 million.
``Edgar's one of the most complete and dynamic players in the
game. He does
everything well,'' said Sox general manager Theo Epstein. ``That's hard
to find,
especially at the shortstop position. Offensively, he's a very solid
hitter, a
tough out. He's not an easy guy to pitch to . . . And he's not a
prolific power
hitter, but he has a lot of pop.
``And defensively we have him as one of the top guys in all of
baseball. He's
very surehanded, consistent, with good range and he's fun to watch play
shortstop.''
In 2004, Renteria hit .287 with 10 home runs and 72 RBI. He's hit
more than
10 home runs each of the last six seasons and he's averaged 75 RBI over
the same
span.
But the man affectionately known as ``The Captain'' in the
Cardinals'
clubhouse brings more than numbers to the ballpark.
``I think, I respect everybody and that's what I expect back,''
Renteria, a
four-time All-Star, said. ``When you respect everybody, to me, that's a
real
leader because I'm a veteran guy and I've got to respect everybody and
get along
with everybody. That's why they think I'm a good leader.''
Epstein joked that Renteria's groundout that concluded the 2004
World Series
was part of the deal, but everyone found it ironic that Keith Foulke's
last
victim in the Fall Classic has now changed sides.
``It's unbelievable, it's amazing,'' Renteria said. ``I made the
last out for
the Red Sox to win the championship, so now I hope I make the last out
to win
the championship (FORthe Red Sox).''
Back in St. Louis, some are griping that Renteria left town for
just $1
million more. The shortstop's agent, Jeff Lane, admitted that the
Cardinals made
an offer for $39 million, but his client would have received deferred
money over
the next 23 years.
``In my opinion, it was more a line was drawn in the sand . . .
As we went
along it became clear to me that if Edgar was going to stay in St. Louis, then
he was going to have to make some concessions,'' Lane said. ``One big
concession
that Edgar did make was he was willing to play this season for $5
million in St. Louis. . . . Obviously if you discount that first year, something has
to happen
in the later years. And really that never came up until at the end,
when I think
it became apparent that Edgar was willing to become a Boston Red Sox.''
Lane also added that the Sox won out over an unnamed team that
had offered a
five-year, $50 million deal. The Sox' postseason chances steered
Renteria, who
had the World Series-winning single in 1997 with the Florida Marlins,
to New England.
One year after his pursuit of Alex Rodgriguez left him with a
disgruntled
Nomar Garciaparra until July and just a few months after Cabrera and
Pokey Reese
were manning the position, now shortstop is one spot Epstein has
resolved.
``Normally when you make a commitment, a four-year commitment to
somebody, as
a general manager you don't sleep,'' Epstein said. ``But this guy is so
reliable, so dependable, that I slept very well that night after we
gave (the
contract) to him. He gives so much to a team.''
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