CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox have reinstated right-hander reliever Tony Pena from the 60-day disabled list and requested waivers for his unconditional release.

The 29-year-old Pena was 1-1 with a 6.20 ERA in 17 appearances before season-ending surgery Aug. 31 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Acquired from Arizona in July 2009, he was 7-6 with a 4.93 ERA overall for Chicago.

Chicago also outrighted right-handed pitchers Kyle Cofield, Josh Kinney and Shane Lindsay and left-hander Leyson Septimo to Triple-A Charlotte on Friday.

Kinney had a 6.62 ERA over 13 games with the White Sox this season, while Lindsay made four relief appearances. Septimo, claimed from Arizona, made 22 relief appearances for Double-A Birmingham, and Cofield spent most of the season with that club.

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When the Florida Marlins pried Ozzie Guillen out of his contract with the Chicago White Sox in late September, they sent the White Sox two prospects in return.

Jhan Marinez and Osvaldo Martinez were ranked the No. 4 and No. 5 prospects, respectively, in the Marlins’ farm system entering the season by Baseball America. Marinez, a righthanded pitcher, made 56 relief appearances at Double-A Jacksonville this season. Martinez, a shortstop, hit .245 with a .296 on-base percentage at Triple-A New Orleans.

With the Cubs on the brink of prying Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein away from his job in Boston, the issue of compensation has arisen again. It’s a little trickier in the case of Epstein than it was with Guillen, as Epstein presumably would receive some sort of promotion, and compensation tends not to be a part of promotions. When Jed Hoyer made the move from assistant general manager in Boston to general manager in San Diego, the Padres offered the Red Sox no compensation in return.

But Epstein, for all intents and purposes, would be the primary team-builder for the Cubs — and that’s just what his job has been in Boston. The Boston Herald reported that the Red Sox would demand “something real” in the way of compensation if Epstein left.

That “something real” would not be Starlin Castro, despite wishful rumors to the contrary.

But it could still be something of quality. The Cubs came into the season with a similar level of organizational talent as the Red Sox, meaning a talented player or two might be coming back the other way.

(For what it’s worth, as much as Epstein accomplished in Boston, a top prospect or two would be a fair price to pay — especially if longtime Epstein lieutenant Ben Cherington slides into the vacant chair to provide continuity.)

Of the 10 prospects Baseball America named as the best in the Cubs’ system last January, three wound up being traded to Tampa Bay in the Matt Garza deal.

But plenty of talent remains.

At the top of the list is outfielder Brett Jackson, a 23-year-old former first-round draft pick who hit .297 with a .388 on-base percentage and .551 slugging percentage in half a season at Triple-A Iowa this season. He also — like Ryan Kalish and Josh Reddick — swings from the left side of the plate. . According to Baseball America last winter, “Jackson’s quick bat, loft in his swing and plus speed should make him an annual 20-20 threat in the majors.”

Righthanded pitcher Trey McNutt, a 22-year-old former 32nd-round draft pick, compiled a 4.55 ERA in 95 innings pitched at Double-A Tennessee in his second full season in the minor leagues. He struck out 65 hitters and walked 39 in that span, and he compiled a WHIP of 1.674. Lefty Chris Rusin— not listed among the Cubs’ top prospects at the start of the season — compiled a 3.96 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio over 3.0 in 138 2/3 innings pitched as a 24-year-old at Double-A and Triple-A.

Righthanded pitcher Chris Carpenter, a 25-year-old former third-round draft pick, made the transition from starter to reliever this season and compiled a 5.91 ERA in 32 relief appearances at Double-A and Triple-A. Righthanded pitcher Hayden Simpson, the Cubs’ No. 1 draft pick in 2010, compiled a 6.27 ERA in his first 79 innings pitched as a professional.

Outfielder Matt Szczur, a 22-year-old former fifth-round draft pick who played football at Villanova, hit .293 with a .335 on-base percentage and 24 stolen bases at two Single-A levels this season.

One intriguing pickup would be 23-year-old former second-round pick D.J. LeMahieu, a versatile infielder who hit .319 with a .354 on-base percentage and .423 slugging percentage at Double-A and Triple-A this season. He came to the plate 62 times with the Cubs last season. His walk rate is his biggest question mark, something the Red Sox might find problematic.

bmacpherson@providencejournal.com

CHICAGO — 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 on 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. Ventura is the 38th White Sox manager overall, including 17 who played for the team.

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.

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 left-handed power, Ventura also played for the New York Mets, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was 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’s top candidates as either Tampa Rays coach Dave Martinez or Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. Both are former White Sox players.

“When I met with the media as our season ended, I identified one person at the very top of my managerial list,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in a team release.

“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, who has also dabbled in TV commentary, said he welcomed the chance to return to the city where his major league career started.

“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.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper and first base coach Harold Baines were already re-signed to multiyear contract extensions before the season ended. Hitting coach Greg Walker is not returning.

Ventura batted hit .267 with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBIs 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, RBIs, extra-base hits and runs scored.

Ventura led Oklahoma State to the College World Series and still holds the Division I record with a 58-game hitting streak.

Guillen, who was a friend of Ventura’s while with the White Sox, left after he couldn’t get a contract extension from owner Jerry Reinsdorf. His relationship with Williams had become fractured over the last two seasons.

Expected to be contenders this season, the White Sox finished 79-83 and third in the AL Central as several key players, most notably DH Adam Dunn and center fielder Alex Rios, struggled offensively.

With the managerial search completed, Chicago’s next big offseason move could be determining whether to bring back longtime ace Mark Buehrle, who will be a free agent.

CHICAGO — 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 on 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. Ventura is the 38th White Sox manager overall, including 17 who played for the team.

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.

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 his career there before joining the Mets for the three years and the Yankees for two.

Known for his slick fielding, clutch hitting and left-handed power, Ventura also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was 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’s top candidates as either Tampa Rays coach Dave Martinez or Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. Both are former White Sox players.

“When I met with the media as our season ended, I identified one person at the very top of my managerial list,” White Sox general manager Ken Williams said in a team release.

“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, who has also dabbled in TV commentary, said he welcomed the chance to return to the city where his major league career started.

“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.”

Pitching coach Don Cooper and first base coach Harold Baines were already re-signed to multiyear contract extensions before the season ended. Hitting coach Greg Walker is not returning.

Ventura batted hit .267 with 294 home runs and 1,182 RBIs 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, RBIs, extra-base hits and runs scored.

Ventura led Oklahoma State to the College World Series and still holds the Division I record with a 58-game hitting streak.

Guillen, who was a friend of Ventura’s while with the White Sox, left after he couldn’t get a contract extension from owner Jerry Reinsdorf. His relationship with Williams had become fractured over the last two seasons.

Expected to be contenders this season, the White Sox finished 79-83 and third in the AL Central as several key players, most notably DH Adam Dunn and center fielder Alex Rios, struggled offensively.

With the managerial search completed, Chicago’s next big offseason move could be determining whether to bring back longtime ace Mark Buehrle, who will be a free agent.

White Sox closer Sergio Santos has agreed to an $8.25-million, three-year contract that includes three club options.

The 28-year-old Santos went 4-5 with 30 saves and a 3.55 ERA in 63 appearances this season. He made a major league-record 25 straight scoreless appearances on the road to start the season from April 2-August 30.

The White Sox announced the deal on Friday.

Santos will receive $1 million next season, $2.75 million in 2013 and $3.75 million in 2014. The options are for $6 million in 2015, $8 million in 2016 and $8.75 million the following season.

Santos also gets $750,000 if the White Sox decline any of the three options.

Chicago acquired Santos in a trade with San Francisco in 2009.