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The Chicago White Sox desired a manager with championship experience after firing former skipper Rick Renteria.
Numerous insiders expected the team to make a run at former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch or former Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora. Instead, the team announced Thursday it was hiring Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who has not managed since 2011.
In fact, it seems the White Sox never even considered Hinch for the position. But he could be headed for another American League Central club.
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY Sports reported the White Sox never interviewed Hinch, who is now a top candidate for the Detroit Tigers position.
Hinch is indeed interviewing with the Tigers. And with the White Sox job off the board, things could move quickly https://t.co/mSTcK0ISRK
— Cody Stavenhagen (@CodyStavenhagen) October 29, 2020
This only adds to the notion La Russa was hired primarily because of his established relationship with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
La Russa's first managing gig came with the White Sox, and he has maintained a close relationship with Reinsdorf ever since.
Not everyone in the organization is enamored with the decision to hire La Russa, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Passan cited questions with respect to La Russa's ability to cultivate relationship's with the team young core, a promising group that made tremendous progress in 2020.
The hiring of Tony La Russa has ruffled feathers in the White Sox organization. A number of employees have concerns about his ability to connect with younger players and how he will adapt to the field after being away 9 years.
This was a Jerry Reinsdorf decision. Simple as that.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 29, 2020
But Reinsdorf seemed pretty locked into the idea of La Russa as the team's next manager, so Hinch will have to look elsewhere.
Whether Hinch lands with the Tigers or not remains to be seen. Hinch grew accustomed to winning in Houston, and it is unknown whether he would be willing to oversee a rebuild in Detroit.
