Chicago White Sox: Top Three Managerial Options
Rick Renteria’s four-year tenure in Chicago ended on Monday. Who ranks as the White Sox’s best option for his replacement?
After four seasons in Chicago, Rick Renteria and the Chicago White Sox agreed to part ways on Monday. During his four-year tenure, Renteria guided the White Sox to a 236-309 overall record.
Chicago, a team laden with young talent, signed several big-name free agents ahead of the 2020 campaign including Yasmani Grandal, Dallas Keuchel, and Edwin Encarnacion. This resulted in the White Sox finishing 35-25 and the franchise’s first playoff appearance since 2008.
Of course, Chicago’s season ended abruptly with a 2-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics in the Wild Card Series. Critics questioned Renteria’s game management in game three when rookie Matt Foster was asked to make his postseason debut during a fourth-inning jam.
According to ESPN staff writer Jesse Rogers, White Sox GM Rick Hahn promised reporters the decision wasn’t provoked by Renteria’s game management in 2020. Rather, it was made to help propel the franchise’s next steps.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 12, 2020
With the organization in win-now mode, which managerial candidate presents the best option to take Chicago to this next step? Consistent winning and championship aspirations.
#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.
#2: Alex Cora
Despite his role in the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal, Alex Cora is one of the top managerial prospects in all of baseball.
The 44-year-old owns a premier championship pedigree. Cora won a World Series title during his first season managing the Boston Red Sox in 2018. He previously won a championship as a bench coach in Houston in 2017 and as a player in 2007 with Boston.
Cora was hired to manage the Red Sox in 2018, racking up nearly 200 wins in his first two seasons (192-132). During the 2018 championship run, Cora won 108 games in Boston, setting a franchise record and the second-most wins ever for a first-year manager.
Of course, Cora was suspended for the 2020 season following the conclusion of MLB’s investigation in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. And, the Red Sox agreed to part ways with Cora in January.
But, the sting and shock of the sign-stealing scandal will wear off, leaving Cora as a top managerial candidate.
Adding to Cora’s appeal is his Puerto Rican nationality. Fifteen players on the White Sox 40-man roster, nearly 40 percent, are of Latin American descent. Cora surely will be able to mix the cohesiveness of this heavily-international roster.
A.J. Hinch and Alex Cora two obvious candidates for a White Sox team ready to climb to the next level.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 12, 2020
#3: Sandy Alomar Jr.
After Terry Francona missed 48 games in 2020 due to health reasons, Sandy Alomar Jr. stepped in his role as acting manager of the Cleveland Indians. Alomar filled this role seamlessly.
Cleveland finished tied for second in the AL Central with the White Sox and won seven of their final eight regular-season games to earn the No. 4 seed in the AL playoff picture. Alomar went 27-19 after Francona stepped aside before the New York Yankees eliminated Cleveland in two games in the Wild Card Series.
Of course, Alomar is no stranger to the White Sox organization. He spent parts of five years of his 20-year playing career in Chicago, hitting .257 with 19 home runs.
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In addition to Alomar’s recent managerial successes in Cleveland, the Puerto Rican native also appeals to Chicago’s heavily-international roster. Alomar, similarly to Cora, surely will be able to mix the cohesiveness of this roster.