Renteria still sees spot for McCann on Sox roster

CHICAGO -- Shortly after adding free agent catcher Yasmani Grandal on a franchise-record, four-year, $73 million deal, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn spoke of a call he made to incumbent catcher James McCann.

Hahn was not the only member of the front office and coaching staff who contacted McCann following the Grandal addition, as manager Rick Renteria explained Tuesday before helping to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the children and staff at the Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in Chicago.

“I spoke to Mac right away. I called him,” Renteria said. “Here's a guy who did a great job for us, an All-Star. I'm sure he sees, 'Gosh, we just signed a guy, gave him an extension, a multiple-year contract, where do I fit?'

“Well, I made him understand, and the kind of conversation we had is he knows how I feel about him. The whole organization knows how I feel about him. I make no bones about it. I love Mac, and I think that this addition does not detract from who he is and what he brings to the table for us as the White Sox. I wanted him to know that we're going to make this work.”

McCann, 29, hit .273 with 18 home runs, 26 doubles and 60 RBIs over 118 games in 2019, his first season with the White Sox, while also earning praise from the pitchers for his game preparation and game calling. With Zack Collins, the team’s top pick in the 2016 Draft, also in the picture, some thought McCann could become a valuable trade component.

But Renteria reiterated a point made by Hahn less than one week ago -- having too many top players at a premium position is a good problem to have.

“All players when you make a change or an add, they deserve to have a conversation with the man that is putting the lineup together,” Renteria said. “I just said, 'Listen, don't worry about it. This will work itself out.'

“It will. It always does. Things happen, and right now, this is a move the organization felt put us in a better position moving forward and so Rick and everyone pulled the trigger, and I'm glad we did, because we're getting better.

“The addition of a catcher of [Grandal’s] caliber, along with Mac, who has certainly helped us move some of these guys along in a very, very positive way, bodes well for us. Having two quality guys behind the plate to continue to help these guys mature and drive and push what we believe is going to be a positive and impactful upcoming season … it’s a plus.”

Jiménez looking to be more complete

There’s little doubt in regard to Eloy Jiménez's immense ability on offense, backed up by his 31 home runs as a rookie this past season and his .340 average, 1.093 OPS and 25 RBIs in September alone. But Jiménez has joined Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League to continue sharpening his defense in left field.

“A lot of people have questions about [Jiménez’s defense]. I don't. I'm one of the ones who doesn't,” Renteria said. “And I'm in there with him in the dugout, watching him work on the field. This young man is going to be a really, really outstanding Major League Baseball player on both sides of the baseball.

“As we move forward, you don't usually have a lot of guys play winter ball. But he's a guy who just loves playing. I would rather, you know, just have a little break, put himself ready for the next season, but this kid's not going to stop until he reaches what he wants to be.”

Sánchez receives high praise

Despite Yolmer Sánchez being put on outright waivers by the White Sox, Renteria had nothing but praise for the Gold Glove second baseman who brought so much joy to the clubhouse.

“If you just close your eyes or actually just watch him play and see the things that he does out there to help you on a daily basis, you know he's going to help somebody,” said Renteria of Sánchez, who started at third base in 2018 for the White Sox but moved to second this past season. “Maybe it's us still, but he is going to help somebody win some ballgames. And I know that part of his defense was the reason we had some of the successes that we did have last year.”