MLB Rumors: 3 Names Emerge As Leaders In White Sox Manager Search
Bruce Bochy, Mike Shildt, and Ron Washington are the front-runners, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
Here's a quick rundown of these three candidates.
Bruce Bochy
He has three World Series titles under his belt with the San Francisco Giants in the first half of the previous decade. The 67-year-old fits the qualifications that White Sox GM Rick Hahn says they're looking for, including "someone who has recent experience in the dugout with an organization that has contended for championships." Bochy managed the Giants as recently as 2019.
Mike Shildt
The 54-year-old Shildt was the NL Manager of the Year in 2019, and led the St. Louis Cardinals to three straight playoff appearances before being let go for "philosophical differences" after the 2021 season.
The one thing hanging over Shildt's head, however, are reports of a "toxic environment" in the Cards clubhouse under his reign. Earlier this year, La Russa was "ticked off" about those reports, and doesn't buy them.
Shildt came up under La Russa when he was in the Cardinals' organization for years.
Ron Washington
As manager of the Texas Rangers from 2007-14, he led the team to two World Series appearances and is known as a great motivator. That fits yet another of the qualities that Hahn is looking for: "Ideally, it's someone who is an excellent communicator."
The 70-year-old is currently the third base coach of the Atlanta Braves.
Other names being considered, according to Nightengale: John Gibbons, Bo Porter, Joe Girardi, and Joe Maddon.
Yes, all of these names have plenty of experience, and have proven themselves at the big league level in one way or another. And Nightengale says that's the key for the White Sox in their next manager:
"Sounds like they really want a guy with experience," Nightengale said. "They don't want an unproven guy and they don't want a learning curve. They think the window to win is now."
Photo: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
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