One way or another, Edgar Renteria wants to bring his career full circle and return to the site of his postseason heroics. Few other players could say this and still keep their options open, but Renteria has some choices. Changing course from a recent statement that he would prefer to return to the Giants, Renteria told reporters in his hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia yesterday that he would like to retire playing either for the Cardinals or the Marlins (link in Spanish).
Over the course of nearly an hour of questioning, Renteria explained that he had been undecided about retirement following the World Series, so he sought the opinions of the baseball minds he admired most. "God sent me a message through the MVP, and I don't know if he did it so that I would retire or so that I would keep going," Renteria said. "In any case, I spoke with important baseball people like Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox, and Manny Mota, and they suggested that I continue, and I'm motivated."
Renteria reiterated that he is willing to play second base as well as shortstop, though even after his down 2009 campaign, the 35-year-old stands out as a feasible backup and occasional starter on both sides of the bag. Both the Cardinals and the Marlins have their 2009 and 2010 starting middle infields under contract for 2011, though the Cardinal duo of Skip Schumaker and Brendan Ryan customarily leave more opportunities for spot-starts and substitutions than the Marlins' steady Dan Uggla and Hanley Ramirez. Though the Marlins aren't a fit for Renteria now, a spot could open up if they are unable to reach an agreement with Uggla and explore trading the second baseman.
marlinsfanatic
i would really like edgar to come back to the fish and help us win another title! I also want to see them trade for pudge, he will help our young pitchers develop.
MisterMarlin
Living in the past? I think so. The Marlins front office has shown they don’t think this way. And thank goodness for that.
marlinsfanatic
If you were a Marlins fan you would know that Pudge would like to retire a Marlin also. He said so mid year when Tommy Hutton asked him. Bringing Pudge back isn’t that bad of a idea they have had discussions about it before.
MisterMarlin
“If you were a Marlins fan”?
If you were a Marlins fan, you wouldn’t just propose bringing back stars from yesteryear just because you’re feeling nostalgic. Why don’t we bring back Dave Magadan to man third base? If Orestes Destrade came out and said he wanted to play one more year with the Marlins, would you want the team to sign him? Everybody in Miami loves Pudge (once we get past the fact that he was juicing), but that doesn’t make him a better fit for the team in 2011 than Miguel Olivo or AJ Pierzynski or even Bengie Molina.
elscorcho the marlin
i’d like molina or pierzynski for sure. pudge, kinda done. olivo looks to be tied up with toronto or colorado
HipNip2009
I heard Robb Nenn is throwing again. LOL
G D
Sheff is looking for a place to land too!
G D
Pudge doesn’t care where he plays or retires, just so long as the money is right.
G D
Hah…better break out the walkers.
LandShark Stadium: Where every night is Senior Citizens night!
Tko11
Im sure the mets would gladly give you guys Castillo
Carlos Rubi
There’s a big difference between “wanting to continue playing for the Giants” and retiring with the Marlins or Cardinals. He could play for a couple of years and then start retiring; we haven’t heard the last of him.
Ferrariman
stay away! stay far far away!
Redbirds16
If he comes significantly cheaper than another Uribe-type (or Uribe himself) sign him. This allows more $ to be spent on RF, 3B, SP, and most importantly AP.
Ferrariman
i’d rather use Greene. i’m pretty confident he can provide subpar defense and a below average bat just like renteria at a much cheaper price. Greene also has speed, something Edgar no longer has. Besides, he’s out of options so its make or break time with him.
StLunatic88
Greene? Tyler Green? No thank you
HipNip2009
Khalil Greene.
cubs223425
I’d say it’s better than Schumaker, at least!
Ferrariman
he never won a world series with St. Louis….
Nepros
He played great there in the postseason, though!
timmytwoshoezzz
But the Cards need more than Renteria to get back to the postseason
nzmrmn
If he feels like he still has gas in the tank, more power to him.
MisterMarlin
Yeah, just don’t come to Florida. We’ve got Bonifacio as our utility infielder. We have no spot for him. It’s that simple. Where would you put him? Uggla just came out and said that he thinks a deal with the Marlins will get done. Knowing that, there is no spot for Renteria on the Marlins roster.
marlinsfanatic
It doesn’t matter what Uggla thinks right now. He also said that the Marlins have cut off extension talks with him for the time being. He will have to wait and see.
MisterMarlin
The Marlins will get this deal with Uggla done. They got a public backlash when they let Cody Ross get away and they won’t let that happen with Uggla. They now know they have to have the public think they are REALLY committed to winning going into the new stadium in 2012. Uggla had a career year and he will get paid by the Fish.
MisterMarlin
The Marlins don’t have the money for him. Even if he came cheap, he’s not worth it. He had a good postseason, a good World Series run. That doesn’t make him a good investment for a team looking to build running up to a new stadium opening up. What we need is a lefty starter, bullpen help and a center fielder (b/c we all know that Maybin will likely be a bust AGAIN).
GiantBuckeye
Best of luck Edgar! We’ll always have 2010!
mgsports
Edgar to 3B.
SLUCARD
Edgar is exactly the kind of guy the Cardinals could use on the bench. He could spot start at SS and 2B for them, while providing average offense and average defense. One thing he has that Tyler Greene does not is experience. Who would you rather have at the plate pinch hitting in a postseason game? Tyler Greene or a former World Series MVP? Edgar is good clutch hitter, good in the clubhouse, and exactly the kind of player that succeeds on a Tony La Russa team.
jbcardsfan
He’s also exactly the kind of guy that Tony would play if he was batting .200. I’m not against signing Renteria. Far from it. Just saying if Renteria, who is old by middle infield standards, starts to lose it at the plate (highest OPS the last 3 years has been this year at only .706), guess who will refuse to bench him? Yup, the Cards good ol’ manager: Tony La Russa.
Sean
If anything he can play every time we face a lefty . In a role like that he could really help the Cards at second and short but especially at the 2 spot
KeithLawSucksInStl
I don’t know if he’d really be that much of an improvement, but I do know that if the Cards got him cheap I’d cheer for him like no tomorrow… I know he left StL for Boston, but he was still a very popular player here, then and after. Wherever he goes, I hope he has a revival.
DarionM
Braves?
InLeylandWeTrust
Thanks alot Edgar for a pathetic year in Detroit. We could have had a rotation of Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, and Jurjjens…..*facepalm*
InLeylandWeTrust
Thanks alot Edgar for a pathetic year in Detroit. We could have had a rotation of Verlander, Scherzer, Porcello, and Jurjjens…..*facepalm*
bradleybear
The marlins traded Maybin for 2 relievers. We needed help in the pen, but I thought we got rid of Ross for nada, because we had Maybin. Whats up?