Renteria enlists veterans to guide White Sox through rebuild
Rick Renteria saw it all in 2016.
As the Chicago White Sox's first-year bench coach, Renteria was on the scene in spring training when Adam LaRoche clashed with vice president Kenny Williams and retired after being asked to scale back son Drake's unlimited clubhouse access.
Renteria was there in spring when Chris Sale and Adam Eaton stood up for LaRoche and dressed down Williams.
Renteria was there when the Sox roared out to a 23-10 start under former manager Robin Ventura, and he was there for the collapse that followed.
He was also there when Sale destroyed throwback uniforms he didn't care for, and Renteria was there when Ventura had Eaton relocate his home clubhouse locker away from Todd Frazier for his own physical safety.
Renteria learned a lot during a chaotic season the South Side, and he's enlisted some help this year - his first as White Sox manager.
The absence of Sale and Eaton, who were traded on consecutive days in December, can only improve the clubhouse chemistry, but Renteria talked to a group of veterans in the early days of spring training and asked players like Frazier, Jose Abreu, Derek Holland and Melky Cabrera to provide leadership.
"Hopefully, put a little group of players together to let them be voices and conduits in the clubhouse," Renteria said. "And let them get back to me so I can communicate with them and so I can get a feel for where everybody is at and use their experience and use their particular talents to take advantage of their time and ability to be leaders.
"Some of it is just leading through example. A lot of it is their own conversations with each other. I think once they come together as a whole, we'll have a nice little core of leaders in that room that will help us navigate through the season."
With the Sox transitioning to a younger roster, having strong veteran leadership is more important than usual.
Frazier, who could very well be traded at some point this season, is a natural leader and willing to take on the role.
"Even though it's my second year (with the White Sox), I know the guys well," Frazier said. "There are a lot of leaders. You have to have a lot of guys to have your back when you are leading. You can't be by yourself. We have that. We have Geovany Soto back. He's been a leader here for a little while. Dave Robertson. It depends on who we have, but at the same time, I think I can be a leader and I think we are starting to see that now."
Frazier's name came up in trade rumors throughout the off-season and that's continued into spring training.
Shortstop Tim Anderson plays alongside Frazier, and he hopes the 31-year-old third baseman stays put this season and beyond.
"I'd say Frazier, a lot," Anderson said when asked who helped him the most as a rookie in 2016. "It's unreal. Whatever's on his mind, he's going to say it. You never know what you might hear. He keeps you on your toes and he made me feel very comfortable last year."
Entering his fourth season with the Sox, Abreu is another veteran Renteria asked to take a bigger leadership role. The first baseman is already a helpful influence on fellow Cuban Yoan Moncada, the White Sox's top prospect.
"I feel very good to be known as a veteran on this team," Abreu said through an interpreter, "I think that's a role I'm very suited to take. I'm very motivated to take the role."
James Shields is entering his 12th season as a major-league starting pitcher. While he tries to show he is much better than last year's numbers (6-19, 5.85 ERA), Shields is helping young Sox starters like Lucas Giolito, Carson Fulmer and Michael Kopech.
"I've been a part of rebuilds quite a bit," Shields said. "For me, I absolutely love it. I love having the young kids, being a veteran, being a leader on the team and showing these guys what professional baseball is all about. I've been very successful with the teams I've been on with the rebuilds. We've got a good group of guys. A lot of young talent, a lot of good talent."