Braves Counting On Renteria Comeback
By Ben Volin
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
March 21, 2006
JUPITER - Braves General Manager John Schuerholz said his team acquired Edgar Renteria this off-season because of his stellar glove and quiet professionalism.
And it's simply a welcome bonus if he can chip in at the plate - like he did Monday afternoon in the Braves' 8-1 win over St. Louis at Roger Dean Stadium with a double and solo home run.
After free agent Rafael Furcal left to sign with the Dodgers, the Braves could've gone with 24-year-old Wilson Betemit at shortstop this season. But when the Red Sox made Renteria available, just one season after signing him to a four-year, $40 million contract, Schuerholz said he couldn't pass up the opportunity.
"Edgar's an established, Gold Glove, All-Star-caliber shortstop," Schuerholz said about the two-time Gold Glove winner. "It's our preference to play for here and now, and we think Edgar Renteria's capabilities give us greater assurance that we're going to have top-notch shortstop play."
The Braves traded highly touted third-base prospect Andy Marte for Renteria, and manager Bobby Cox said Renteria most likely will bat second behind Marcus Giles.
And while he is batting .364 with three homers this spring, Renteria enters this season with question marks.
Was his 2005 season with Boston an aberration or a sign of things to come?
In this first season in the American League, Renteria batted .276 but hit just eight home runs and stole only nine bases. He also committed 30 errors, and his .954 fielding percentage was the second-lowest among shortstops who played at least 100 games.
By contrast, in 2003 he hit .330, stole 34 bases and had a .975 fielding percentage for St. Louis, tied for ninth in the majors.
But Cox isn't worried. Renteria spent his first nine seasons in the National League, producing a World Series-winning hit with the Marlins in 1997 and helping St. Louis reach the 2004 World Series.
And Renteria still has youth on his side.
"He's not even 30 years old yet, so no concerns at all," Cox said. "He's a nice kid, great kid. Manager's dream."
Renteria, who actually will turn 31 on Aug. 7, said that he used to watch Braves games on cable television as a child growing up in Colombia, and said being traded to the Braves made him
"the happiest man of the off-season."
And now that he's in a less-pressurized environment in Atlanta, with an organization that has won 14 consecutive division titles, the Braves expect him to return to his pre-Boston level of performance.
"He's always been at the top of our list," Schuerholz said. "In this organization, and under Bobby Cox's leadership, he will shine again."
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