Cubs’ Renteria keeps focus amid speculation

Rick Renteria issued a statement about his job status on Monday. (USATSI)

Long-time manager Joe Maddon opted out of his contract with the Rays last week, sparking a flurry of rumors and speculation about his future home. Along with the Dodgers, the Cubs have been a popular talking point because they’re an up-and-coming team like the Rays clubs Maddon led years ago.

The Cubs, however, already have a manager in Rick Renteria, who they hired just last offseason. The team went 73-89 in 2014 — their best season since 2010 — and under his watch Starlin Castro bounced back from a disappointing year and Anthony Rizzo blossomed into a star. Still, the appeal of Maddon is obvious.

On Monday afternoon, Renteria issued a statement — through agent Ken Soloman, not the team — regarding his status and job situation. Courtesy of CBS Chicago:

“I was hired nearly a year ago to be the Chicago Cubs manager,” Renteria said in the statement. “Notwithstanding all the speculation, I continue to focus my offseason preparation on achieving the goal we established from the start: bringing a championship to Chicago.”

The Dodgers, Mets and Phillies have all publicly said they will not pursue Maddon. The Cubs have not done that it’s only added fuel to the fire. If they were committed to Renteria, wouldn’t they just come out and say it out of respect for him? You’d think so.

The Cubbies are widely regarded as a team on the rise thanks to their bevy of young position players, including Castro, Rizzo, Javier Baez, Jorge Soler and Kris Bryant. They’re expected to pursue top notch pitching this winter to supplement their young core.

The Twins and Rays are the only clubs with managerial openings at the moment.

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