Edgar Enrique Rentería [ren-ter-EE-ah] (born August 7, 1975 in Barranquilla, Colombia) is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves (as of 2006). He bats and throws right-handed.File:XBurWW4R.jpg
Profile
At the plate, Rentería has a short stroke and drives the ball with extra-base power to all fields. On the bases, he reads pitchers' moves well, and he usually gets very good jumps, which account for his good stolen base totals. He also is the kind of basestealer who does his thing when it means the most. He is a hard-nosed player, adept at breaking up double plays. Rentería has superior range in the field. He has fluid range and soft hands, and, equipped with a strong arm and good reactions, he turns the double play with ease.
Signed to a 4 year $40,000,000 contract with the Boston Redsox in 2004. December 8th, 2005 was traded to the Atlanta Braves for 3B Andy Marte and cash considerations.
Highlights
- 4-time All-Star (1998, 2000, 2003-04)
- Two-time Gold Glove Award winner (2002-03)
Lowlights
The 2005 season was a disappointing one for Renteria. Replacing fan favorite short stop Orlando Cabrera, who had jump started the World Series winning team the year before, and Nomar Garciapara before him, was not an easy job. Renteria was a highly toted free agent coming into one of the leagues biggest markets with perhaps the most critical fans and media. Renteria struggled both at the plate and in the field. He batted just .276 and had only 8 homeruns. In the field he had a career high 30 errors which led the league. He had won the Gold Glove in both 2002 and 2003. The disappointing season led to the media and fans criticizing Renteria. One famous case is that by BostonDirtDogs.com. A parody of the peptobismal commercial slogan "nausua, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diahrea" was changed to "nausua, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, Renteria."
Following the 2005 season, the Red Sox traded Renteria to the Atlanta Braves for third baseman prospect Andy Marte.