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Following Monday’s announcement that Tony La Russa is stepping down as Chicago White Sox supervisor as a result of well being considerations, normal supervisor Rick Hahn has begun the seek for a brand new skipper. Hahn’s standards for the following supervisor included latest dugout expertise as a coach or supervisor for a profitable group, good communication expertise and an understanding of how the sport has advanced during the last decade. He additionally added this twist:
“One factor that maybe breaks from the mould of a minimum of the previous couple of hires, having a historical past with the White Sox, having some type of connection to White Sox DNA is certainly not a requirement,” Hahn stated.
The outline would virtually instantly get rid of a number of names who had been speculated as prospects, together with former catcher A.J Pierzynski and former supervisor Ozzie Guillen. Nevertheless it leaves a number of intriguing candidates because the White Sox search for a recent voice. Listed below are some potential most closely fits for the function.
The inner candidate
Miguel Cairo — Hahn indicated Cairo could be the one exception to the thought he may very well be wanting outdoors the group. As the present appearing supervisor, he appears to have offered a burst of vitality because the crew performed nicely underneath him for a short while. However that every one got here to a halt when the Sox had been swept at dwelling by the Guardians in a crucial September sequence. The White Sox went on to lose eight straight underneath Cairo regardless of his makes an attempt to instill some accountability within the clubhouse.
Outdoors the group
Davey Martinez — The present supervisor of the Washington Nationals has one 12 months left on his deal, however may very well be a number one candidate for the White Sox job — assuming he may very well be lured to Chicago.
Martinez, 58, performed for the White Sox from 1995-1997 and was the bench coach on the opposite aspect of Chicago, in 2016, when the Cubs gained a World Sequence. He additionally gained a hoop in 2019 as the person in control of the Nationals. Regardless of his years with the crew within the 90’s, he would match the factors of going outdoors the group’s consolation zone.
Washington is initially of a rebuild in a particularly robust NL East whereas the crew can be up on the market. The timing could be proper for Martinez to return to Chicago.
Sandy Alomar Jr. — Alomar left an excellent impression on the group throughout three separate stints with the White Sox as a participant again within the early 2000s. Although he hasn’t been across the crew for over a decade — once more filling the factors of going outdoors the group — he’s nonetheless acquainted with the market and crew.
The present first base coach of the Cleveland Guardians, Alomar additionally has some latest managing expertise. Whereas supervisor Terry Francona handled well being points halfway via the shortened 2020 season, Alomar guided the Guardians to a 28-18 end and a playoff look.
Joe Espada — He is been the new candidate over the previous few seasons having been the bench coach for the Astros’ present run. It stays to be seen if he is in line for Houston’s job when Dusty Baker retires, however Espada has already interviewed for a number of latest openings — together with with the Cubs and Rangers. It is solely a matter of time earlier than Espada will get a prime job, and he actually would have an understanding of how the sport has advanced having labored for a corporation on the forefront of innovation.
Will Venable — Venable is a reputation that’s choosing up steam throughout the trade as he is nicely considered the bench coach of the Boston Crimson Sox. Now that he is been again in uniform for about 5 seasons, the previous main league outfielder ought to begin getting extra managerial consideration. His dugout expertise for a franchise with latest success matches one in every of Hahn’s standards.
Pedro Grifol — Grifol has seemingly carried out every little thing else as a coach or coordinator after taking part in eight seasons within the minors, and it’d lastly be his time to handle whether or not in Chicago or elsewhere. As a present bench coach within the division with the Royals, he’d be acquainted with White Sox personnel. One admirer referred to as him ‘the whole bundle’ and famous that his expertise working with Latin gamers may make him a robust slot in Chicago’s clubhouse.
Don Mattingly — The previous Marlins and Dodgers supervisor checks a whole lot of the packing containers Hahn is searching for after having simply introduced he will not be returning to the dugout in Miami.
Outdoors-the-box choice
Joe Maddon — OK — this a longshot candidate, but it surely would not be the primary time the White Sox employed a former Cubs supervisor. Ricky Renteria managed the Cubs in 2014 then the White Sox from 2017-2020. Maddon brings expertise, however his finest managerial years got here whereas rising a tradition with youthful groups and the White Sox needs to be previous that stage.
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