CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are set to hire San Diego Padres bench coach Rick Renteria as their manager, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The team was expected to make it official Thursday. Renteria managed the Portland Sea Dogs in 2000 and 2001 with a combined record of 148-135, finishing fourth in the division his first year and third the next.

The move ended a long search that began with the last-place Cubs targeting New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi, only to be denied a shot when he decided to stay put.

Instead the Cubs are hoping Renteria can help develop their young players and lead them to their first championship since 1908. He replaces Dale Sveum, who was fired after two seasons.

The Cubs went 66-96 this season and finished last in the NL Central.

DAVID ORTIZ, the World Series MVP, won his sixth Silver Slugger award as the top designated hitter in voting by major league managers and coaches.

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Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano, Detroit third baseman Miguel Cabrera and Minnesota catcher Joe Mauer each were selected for the fifth time.

Silver Slugger awards are given to the top offensive player at each position in the American and National Leagues.

Nine of the 18 recipients were first-time winners.

The Orioles led all teams with three winners: Outfielder Adam Jones, shortstop J.J. Hardy and first baseman Chris Davis.

RAYS: Outfielder David DeJesus agreed to a $10.5 million, two-year contract.

The deal calls for a $250,000 signing bonus, and salaries of $4.25 million next season and $5 million in 2015. The Rays have a $5 million option for 2016 with a $1 million buyout.

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DeJesus had been scheduled to make $6.5 million next year under the 2014 option exercised by the team Sunday.

RETIRING YANKEES pitchers Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte were voted the Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town award by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

They will receive the award at the chapter’s annual dinner Jan. 25.

Tim McCarver, a former big league catcher and a Fox broadcaster who is retiring this year, was voted the William J. Slocum and Jack Lang Long and Meritorious Service award at the chapter’s annual meeting Wednesday.

TIGERS: Pitching coach Jeff Jones will remain under the new manager, Brad Ausmus.

The Tigers also hired Dave Clark as third-base coach and outfield instructor.

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Jones became Detroit’s pitching coach in the middle of the 2011 season, and the Tigers have developed one of the game’s best starting rotations. Max Scherzer is a front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award this year and Justin Verlander won it in 2011.

DODGERS: Prosecutors in Tennessee dismissed charges of reckless driving and speeding against outfielder Yasiel Puig.

Puig completed at least 12 hours of community service.

A police report said Puig went 97 mph in a 50 mph zone.


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