(Reuters) – Former Chicago White Sox All-Star third baseman Robin Ventura was named manager of the Major League Baseball club, the team said on Thursday.

Ventura, who was already working as a director of player development for the White Sox, replaces the colourful Ozzie Guillen, who parted ways with the club last month and joined the Florida Marlins.

“When I rejoined the White Sox this June, I said this was my baseball home and that part of me never left the White Sox organisation,” Ventura said in statement.

“My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Chicago. Managing a Major League Baseball team is a tremendous honor. It’s also an opportunity and a challenge.”

Ventura was originally drafted by the White Sox in 1998, and played more than 10 years with the organisation. He also played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers during his 16-year career.

In 2,079 career games, Ventura had a .267 batting average with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBIs.

“I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities,” said White Sox general manager Ken Williams. “Robin Ventura was that man. His baseball knowledge and expertise, his professionalism, his familiarity with the White Sox and Chicago and his outstanding character make him absolutely the right person to lead our clubhouse and this organization into the seasons ahead.”

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It’s all in the family for the Chicago White Sox organization and their latest managerial hire.

Chicago named Robin Ventura, a long-time White Sox infielder and current special advisor to the team’s director of player development, the next manager of the club.

The 44-year-old played 16 major league seasons, 10 of which were spent on the South Side. He replaces Ozzie Guillen, who left the club for the Florida Marlins.

“When I rejoined the White Sox this June, I said this was my baseball home and that part of me never left the White Sox organization,” Ventura said in a statement. “My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Chicago. Managing a Major League Baseball team is a tremendous honor. It’s also an opportunity and a challenge.

The hire was a shock to many. Owner Kenny Williams had contacted the Rays to speak with bench coach Dave Martinez. Former Sox catcher Sandy Alomar was also considered a candidate.

“When I met with the media as our season ended, I identified one person at the very top of my managerial list,” general manager Ken Williams said in a statement. “I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities. Robin Ventura was that man.”

But Williams and the organization have never shied away from questionable hires (see Guillen, Ozzie). And that marriage helped end an 88-year World Series drought.

The Chicago White Sox on Thursday announced that Robin Ventura has been named the teams new manager after Ozzie Guillen left the organization last week.

The 44-year-old former player agreed to the multiyear deal with the club after working over the last season as a special advisor to director of player development Buddy Bell.

In a statement about the decision team GM Ken Williams said:

“When I met with the media as our season ended, I identified one person at the very top of my managerial list.” Williams went on to add, “I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities. Robin Ventura was that man. His baseball knowledge and expertise, his professionalism, his familiarity with the White Sox and Chicago and his outstanding character make him absolutely the right person to lead our clubhouse and this organization into the seasons ahead.”

Ventura actually wasn’t sold on the idea until he met with Williams:

“There was a lot of (apprehension) when I first went home to talk to my wife about it,” Ventura said. “It turned us upside down. I have a good thing going and it was easy getting back into the game doing what I was doing. I had the freedom to coach and come back home. I think there was a lot of comfort in talking to the family that this was the White Sox, which for us is an extended family.”

A former Chicago White Sox player from 1989-1998, Venture played in the Bigs for 16 seasons including the 1999-2001 season with the New York Mets, a season with the New York Yankees and a career finishing stint with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he ended his player career in 2004.

Do you think Ventura is the right decision for manager of the Chicago White Sox?

FORMER ALL-STAR third baseman Robin Ventura is replacing the fiery Ozzie Guillen as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox say that Ventura agreed to a multiyear deal yesterday.

A longtime star with the White Sox, Ventura was hired by the club last June as a special adviser to director of player development Buddy Bell. Ventura is the 38th White Sox manager overall, including 17 who played for the team.

Guillen was released from his contract with 1 year remaining after eight seasons with the White Sox and immediately was hired by the Florida Marlins as their manager.

Ventura was a first-round draft pick of the White Sox out of Oklahoma State in 1988 and spent the first 10 seasons of his 16-year career with Chicago. Known for his slick fielding, clutch hitting and lefthanded power, Ventura also played for the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers. He was a six-time Gold Glove winner and an All-Star in 1992 and 2002.

Ventura’s selection came as a surprise. Most speculation had the White Sox’ top candidates as either Tampa Bay Rays coach Dave Martinez or Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. Both are former White Sox players.

“When I rejoined the White Sox this June, I said this was my baseball home and that part of me never left the White Sox organization,” Ventura said. “My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Chicago. Managing a major league baseball team is a tremendous honor. It’s also an opportunity and a challenge.”

Ventura batted .267 with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBI over his career. His 18 career grand slams are tied for fifth in major league history. He appeared in 1,254 games over 10 seasons with the White Sox, hitting .274 with 171 home runs and 741 RBI. He ranks among the White Sox career leaders in grand slams, walks, homers, RBI, extra-base hits and runs scored.

Noteworthy * 

Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said that while signing outfielder Matt Kemp to an extension will be a priority this winter, he will not put a time limit of Opening Day on the negotiations, as Kemp’s agent Dave Stewart has suggested.

Kemp, 27, is coming off his finest season as a professional. He hit .324 with 39 home runs, 126 RBI and 40 steals. He has one more season of arbitration and would become a free agent after the 2012 season if the Dodgers don’t sign him to an extension.

CHICAGO – Former all-star third baseman Robin Ventura is replacing the fiery Ozzie Guillen as manager of the Chicago White Sox.

The White Sox said that Ventura agreed to a multiyear deal Thursday.

A longtime star with the White Sox, Ventura was hired by the club last June as a special adviser to director of player development Buddy Bell.

Guillen was released from his contract with one year remaining after eight seasons with the White Sox and immediately was hired by the Florida Marlins as their manager.

Known for his slick fielding, clutch hitting, and lefthanded power, Ventura also played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was s six-time Gold Glove winner and an all-star in 1992 and 2002.

Ventura’s selection came as a surprise. Most speculation had the White Sox’ top candidates as either Tampa Bay Rays coach Dave Martinez or Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr.

“I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in a team release. “Robin Ventura was that man. His baseball knowledge and expertise, his professionalism, his familiarity with the White Sox and Chicago, and his outstanding character make him absolutely the right person to lead our clubhouse and this organization into the seasons ahead.”

Former Chicago White Sox All-Star third baseman Robin Ventura was named manager of the Major League Baseball club, the team said on Thursday.

Ventura, who was already working as a director of player development for the White Sox, replaces the colourful Ozzie Guillen, who parted ways with the club last month and joined the Florida Marlins.

“When I rejoined the White Sox this June, I said this was my baseball home and that part of me never left the White Sox organisation,” Ventura said in statement.

“My family and I are thrilled to be returning to Chicago. Managing a Major League Baseball team is a tremendous honor. It’s also an opportunity and a challenge.”

Ventura was originally drafted by the White Sox in 1998, and played more than 10 years with the organisation. He also played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers during his 16-year career.

In 2,079 career games, Ventura had a .267 batting average with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBIs.

“I wanted someone who met very specific criteria centered around his leadership abilities,” said White Sox general manager Ken Williams. “Robin Ventura was that man. His baseball knowledge and expertise, his professionalism, his familiarity with the White Sox and Chicago and his outstanding character make him absolutely the right person to lead our clubhouse and this organization into the seasons ahead.”