#1: AJ Hinch
AJ Hinch appears as the early favorite for the open White Sox managerial role. Hinch, former manager of the Houston Astros, made four playoff appearances and two World Series appearances during his five-year run in Houston. This, of course, includes the 2017 World Series championship.
Hinch and Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow were suspended for a year by the MLB as a result of the sign-stealing scandal. As a result, Hinch was fired by Houston earlier this year.
Hinch owns a 570-452 overall record, highlighted by three-straight years of 101 wins or more from 2017-19.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, Chicago GM Hahn laid out two elements for the next Chicago manager to possess. This includes a championship pedigree and someone coming from outside the organization.
#WhiteSox GM Rick Hahn: "The ideal candidate will be someone who has experience in a championship organization in recent years.''
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 12, 2020
The #WhiteSox next manager, in all likelihood, will come from outside the organization, GM Rick Hahn says.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 12, 2020
Hinch checks both of those boxes.