10 potential candidates for the next White Sox manager

With Tony La Russa officially announcing his retirement on Monday, the White Sox find themselves without a manager for the second time in three seasons.

At La Russa’s press conference Monday afternoon, Rick Hahn mentioned the following qualities as part of managers to be considered within the interview process:

• Recent experience in the dugout with a team that has experienced championships
  • Managerial experience is NOT a requirement
• Excellent communicator who understands the way of the game; has grown and evolved but has “old school sensibilities”
• Having a history with the White Sox is not a requirement, but Miguel Cairo will receive an interview

While plenty of names have begun to circulate on social media regarding the next manager of the White Sox, who are some of the candidates who have the experience, leadership, and forward-thinking ability to take the role?

Here are 10 potential candidates for Rick Hahn and the White Sox, as well as how they might fit the team moving forward.

Bruce Bochy

Current Position: None (Retired as manager of San Francisco Giants following 2019 season)

Of all the names on this list, none has more managerial experience and success than Bochy. A three-time World Series Champion manager, Bochy spent his career with the Padres (1995-2006) and Giants (2007-2019) before calling it quits in 2019. He has a career record of 2,003-2,029, including a 44-33 record in the postseason.

With Bochy, the White Sox would replace a Hall of Fame manager with a future Hall of Fame manager, but would also be running the same risk with a manager who has been out of the game – albeit for a much shorter amount of time than La Russa. Bochy has also dealt with health problems – heart scares – in previous years, calling ever closer to the comparison between La Russa and Bochy.

Bochy had been considered for the Mets’ most recent managerial opening, though he was passed over in favor of Buck Showalter. Regardless, Bochy’s credentials cannot be denied, and should the White Sox make him their next manager, he would come with plenty of success and experience as Rick Hahn mentioned.

Fredi Gonzalez

Current Position: Bench Coach, Baltimore Orioles

Gonzalez, like Bochy, is one of a few names on this list with previous major league managerial experience. Gonzalez had previously managed the Marlins (2007-2010) and Braves (2011-2016) before settling into coaching roles. From 2017-2019, Gonzalez was the third base coach for the Marlins. Since then, he has been on the Orioles’ coaching staff.

Gonzalez’s most recent managerial experience does not work in his favor, as he was fired by the Braves during the 2016 season after the club started the season 9-28. He has also received previous criticism for his bullpen usage and was the manager when the Braves surrendered an 8.5-game lead in the National League Wild Card race back in 2010.

At the same time, Gonzalez’s Hispanic heritage likely works in his favor, given the makeup of the current White Sox’s roster – a bilingual coach would go a long way in the clubhouse. The 58-year-old would certainly give the White Sox an experienced manager in the dugout who is still in the game today.

Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Current Position: First Base Coach, Cleveland Guardians

Alomar, 56, stands as the most experienced coach on this list that has never been named the manager of a team. The former White Sox got his start in coaching back in 2008 as the catching instructor for the New York Mets. He was hired into the Guardians’ organization in 2010, being named the first base coach on Manny Acta‘s staff. It was at that time that Alomar began being connected to managerial openings, including those in Toronto, Chicago (Cubs), and Boston. He was promoted to bench coach before the 2012 season and served as the interim manager for the Guardians after Manny Acta was fired at the end of 2012. He went 3-3 in that short span and was reassigned as the bench coach for Terry Francona heading into 2013. Alomar has since been assigned to the team’s first base coach role once again. In 2020, he served as Francona’s temporary replacement as manager when Francona was out recovering from surgery. The Guardians went 28-19 in that time but were swept in the Wild Card Series by the Yankees.

If it’s not abundantly clear, Alomar’s resume is the most impressive of any of the listed names that have not already served as a manager. It is unclear if Alomar has any willingness to leave the Cleveland organization, as he may be waiting for Francona to retire to take his role. However, after getting passed up several times throughout his career, it may be hard for Alomar to turn down the role if the White Sox were to extend him the managerial offer. He’s been with a winning organization – he checks the main boxes for Rick Hahn and the White Sox.

Matt Quatraro

Current Position: Bench Coach, Tampa Bay Rays

When it comes to analytically-driven franchises, there really is no better place to turn than the Tampa Bay Rays. Matt Quatraro, 48, has been a name connected to managerial openings for several years. He has been the bench coach for Kevin Cash since 2018, and before that, spent time with the Cleveland Guardians (assistant hitting coach). Within the Rays’ organization, Quatraro has also served as the minor league hitting coordinator (2010-2013).

Quatraro interviewed for the New York Mets and Oakland Athletics vacancies last season and was a finalist for the San Francisco Giants managerial job that went to Gabe Kapler in 2020. Given his experience with two successful, analytically driven teams, he is likely to be a hot commodity this offseason once again. Like many names on this list, Quatraro would be a first-time manager but comes in as a very experienced major league coach who has seen success in a well-run organization.

Joe Espada

Current Position: Bench Coach, Houston Astros

Like Quatraro, Joe Espada is expected to be a hot commodity among teams with a managerial opening this offseason. Currently Dusty Baker‘s bench coach, Espada has a lot of major league coaching experience. He first served as the Marlins’ third base coach from 2010-2013 after spending several seasons as a minor league manager and instructor. He then moved on to the Yankees as a special assistant to Brian Cashman before becoming the bench coach for the Astros in 2017.

When it comes to a resume, few have the resume Espada has at age 47. The only thing he is missing is managerial experience. He has been interviewed for several managerial jobs over the past few years, including for both the Rangers and Cubs’ most recent openings. His experience with a winning organization like the Astros only adds to his appeal, and he is well-regarded in the Astros clubhouse – including by Dusty Baker himself.

The Marlins are seen as a likely leader for Espada’s services, given his familiarity with the organization. In addition, there are reports that Espada could simply wait for Dusty Baker’s retirement to eventually take over the role in Houston. However, given how many clubs are expected to pursue Espada, it may finally be his time elsewhere. The White Sox have been connected to Espada, and given his resume, he is a perfect fit for the ballclub.

Carlos Beltran

Current Position: None

Carlos Beltran was named in Bob Nightengale’s recent piece that reported La Russa would announce his retirement, calling him “the perfect fit.” The nine-time All-Star was a clubhouse leader who was reportedly widely respected by everyone in his 20-year career. He has no coaching experience, and most recently, he has served as an analyst for the YES Network.

The elephant in the room has to be addressed, however. Beltran was supposed to be under contract with the New York Mets as their manager right now. However, Beltran was the only player specifically named in the Astros’ cheating scandal report of 2017, and as a result, he stepped down as manager before ever actually managing the game. He has not been in the league in the three years since the scandal was uncovered.

The Mets were reportedly thrilled about their ability to hire Beltran, seeing him as a leader with a modern style of thinking that would fit well in the game today. These traits should no doubt be prioritized by the White Sox. He also fits the bill as a Spanish-speaking individual. Though, at the end of the day, it’s unclear how a team full of veterans would react to having one of the main members of the Astros’ cheating scandal as their manager.

If the White Sox don’t decide to make Beltran their next manager, they would be wise to consider him for another position within the organization – perhaps as a new hitting coach.

George Lombard

Current Position: Bench Coach, Detroit Tigers

Lombard, 47, spent the beginning of his coaching career with the Red Sox’s minor league affiliates before filling the same role (roving outfield and baserunning coordinator) with the Braves in 2015. Lombard was then hired by the Dodgers as their first base coach, a role he would hold from 2016-2020 under Dave Roberts. He has since been the bench coach for the Tigers, coming to the staff along with A.J. Hinch beginning in 2021.

Lombard has previously been interviewed for positions with the Marlins (base coach) and Pirates (manager), and given his time with a World Series Champion Dodgers team – which is just a top-class organization itself – Lombard has some great experience to go with his current coaching role. It’s well-known that A.J. Hinch was Rick Hahn’s leading candidate back before Tony La Russa was hired; could he perhaps steal his bench coach instead?

Willie Harris

Current Position: Third Base Coach, Chicago Cubs

Willie Harris’ name has come up a lot in discussions around the next White Sox manager. The 44-year-old got his start in coaching within the White Sox’ organization, serving as the hitting coach of the Great Falls Voyagers in 2016 and manager of the Winston-Salem Dash in 2017. Following his time with the White Sox, he moved to the Giants’ organization as the manager of the AA Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2018. In 2019, Harris was named the baserunning and outfield coordinator for the Cincinnati Reds, and since 2020, Harris has served as the third base coach for the Chicago Cubs.

No matter where he has gone as a coach, Harris has been held in high regard as a future manager. Most recently, David Ross has come out in support of Harris as a manager, and according to sources, multiple players across several teams have noted that Harris would make an incredible future manager. With the White Sox needing a change in “accountability” according to acting manager Miguel Cairo, Harris is considered an individual who could get the best out of players and guide them to play with the spark they need.

Should the White Sox not make Harris their manager, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another staff add him as their manager – or, perhaps, the White Sox could name him their next bench coach, given how highly he is regarded within the organization and around baseball.

Curtis Granderson

Current Position: None

A Chicago native, Granderson is a name that has swirled in rumor mills recently, as he is apparently well-liked within the White Sox organization. Granderson has not had enough time out of the major leagues to pursue any sort of coaching career, as he only announced his retirement from baseball in 2020. Since then, he has been a host for MLB games on TBS and has served as the president of the Players Alliance, an organization of active and former players that works to increase opportunities for black athletes to participate in professional baseball. He had been involved in the MLB Players Association as a player since 2006.

Granderson was reportedly a candidate for manager of the Mets before the club hired Buck Showalter before this season. Though regarded for his leadership and friendly demeanor, it’s unclear what sort of manager Granderson would be – though a lack of managerial experience doesn’t appear to be a problem for the White Sox in this search. However, his lack of coaching experience may prevent him from getting the role.

Miguel Cairo

Current Position: Bench Coach, Chicago White Sox; Interim Manager, Chicago White Sox

It would feel out of place to not put Cairo on this list, given that Rick Hahn mentioned him by name at his press conference. He has served as La Russa’s bench coach for the past two seasons, and as he has gotten a chance to run the show over the past month, he has shown he has some great leadership qualities. The team got off to a 13-6 start in his tenure before things collapsed over the past few weeks, and throughout the collapse, Cairo refreshingly did not hesitate to call out his own mistakes or his players’ lack of energy and accountability.

Rick Hahn has previously made statements about the White Sox’s hiring process being too insular, so it’s not likely that the team decides to forego a managerial search outside of the organization – especially given his comments today. However, Cairo could likely still be interviewed for the position, and until the White Sox give more information about his future, he should be considered a candidate for the role.

Other Potential Names of Note

Mike Shildt, Will Venable, Joe Girardi, Joe Maddon, A.J. Hinch, A.J. Pierzynski, Ozzie Guillen, Eduardo Perez

Each of these managers could have easily had their own section written about them. However, there are varying degrees of doubt that they would ever be explored as managers for the White Sox.

Shildt, Girardi, Maddon, and Guillen all are available and have previous managerial experience. However, given that Shildt, Maddon, and Girardi were fired recently, it’s unclear if it’s the best fit for the White Sox to explore each of these options. Guillen, a favorite among White Sox fans, made a very public play for the role on Sunday’s White Sox Pregame show, stating, “Nobody in baseball knows this ballclub better than Ozzie Guillen.” However, his relationship with the organization has been tenuous recently, and in the White Sox’s most recent managerial search, Rick Hahn made it clear that Guillen was not a potential candidate.

Venable and Pierzynski fall into the category of former big leaguers without managerial experience. Pierzynski has no coaching experience at all, and likely doesn’t represent a great fit for the White Sox despite their history. Venable has been the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox for the past two seasons but is rumored to be a strong fit for the Texas Rangers’ current opening.

There are rumors that Hinch has an opt-out clause in his current contract with the Tigers that would allow him to leave. Additionally, his future is not entirely clear with the hiring of new president of baseball operations Scott Harris. However, there is no indication that the Tigers are looking to move on from Hinch. Finally, Perez has been an excellent analyst with ESPN since his playing days. He has also served as the Marlins’ hitting coach (2012) and Astros’ bench coach (2013) and first base coach (2014) before stepping away to spend more time with his family. He has also managed in the World Baseball Classic and Puerto Rican Baseball League. However, despite his experience, it’s unclear if he would ever leave his current role with ESPN.

For the White Sox, their new managerial search begins again today. While the team will have competition with the Marlins, Angels, Phillies, and Rangers – and likely other teams as the season comes to a close – this is still a very desirable job for managerial candidates. Should Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams be given the reigns to take over this managerial search, it will be interesting which of these names – if any – will be Tony La Russa’s successor.

Who do you want the White Sox to hire? Let us know by filling out our fan survey here.

Follow us @SoxOn35th as more information becomes available!

Featured Image: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports