CHICAGO (670 The Score) – In a seismic change on the South Side, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf on Tuesday fired longtime executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn. Williams had been with the organization since 1992, while Hahn had been with the White Sox since 2000.
All eyes now turn to whom the White Sox will tab to be their new lead baseball executive. The White Sox’s plan is to conduct a search for “a single decision-maker to lead the baseball operations department,” the team said in a press release announcing the changes.
With that in mind, here’s an early look at a few candidates, while other names will surely emerge as well.
Chris Getz, White Sox assistant general manager
Getz, 39, is the in-house candidate with the most experience, and he oversees the White Sox’s minor league system. He has been praised for understanding the modern MLB player. Getz has developed a strong relationship with Reinsdorf, and he’ll likely get a hard look at the position.
Related
Dayton Moore, former Royals president of baseball operations
Moore, 56, is currently working for the AL West-leading Rangers as a senior advisor. He led the Royals from 2006 until he was fired last September, and he built the Kansas City team that won the World Series in 2015. The Royals also reached the World Series in 2014. Moore served as the Braves’ director of international scouting prior to joining the Royals, and he’s considered a farm system expert. Moore hired both Getz and current Chicago manager Pedro Grifol in Kansas City, and he still has a close relationship with each of them.
Jeremy Haber, White Sox assistant general manager
Haber has worked his way up the White Sox front office ladder across the past decade. He’s the team’s contract negotiation expert and master of detailed information. Haber compiled a 190-page profile on Grifol that was used for background information before Grifol’s hiring last November. Haber has also become savvier in player development by spending time scouting the team’s minor league system. His work and research were instrumental in the White Sox’s acquisitions of right-hander Lucas Giolito, right-hander Reynaldo Lopez and right-hander Dane Dunning in exchange for outfielder Adam Eaton back in 2016.
Jim Hendry, former Cubs general manager
Hendry, 68, was the Cubs’ lead baseball executive from 2002-’11, and he has been a special assistant to Yankees general manager Brian Cashman since. Hendry has a reputation as a strong talent evaluator and communicator, and he’s a longtime friend of Reinsdorf. If the White Sox are looking to give Getz and/or Haber more influence but want a trusted veteran executive to help them grow on the job, Hendry could help make that a reality.
Theo Epstein, former Cubs president of baseball operations
The White Sox landing Epstein, 49, is the longshot of all longshots, but he’ll always be on every team’s shortlist when there are vacancies. Epstein led the Cubs from late 2011 until late 2020, during which he built the team that famously ended the team’s 108-year championship drought. Epstein is currently serving as a consultant for MLB, with a focus on on-field matters, and he had a leading role in the implementation of new rules that have sped up the game. Epstein moved his young family from Chicago to New York last year and has a summer home in Nantucket, making it likely that his next job will be on the East Coast. For the White Sox or any team to attract Epstein’s attention, they’d likely need to offer an equity stake in the team. Epstein and Reinsdorf have a good relationship and strong respect for one another.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker