9 great options to replace Tony La Russa as White Sox manager

Tony La Russa has way too much job security with the Chicago White Sox.

The reason La Russa is on his second tour of duty as Chicago White Sox manager is that owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s biggest regret was firing Tony back in 1986. La Russa went on to become a Hall of Fame manager with the Oakland A’s and the St. Louis Cardinals.

He also won three World Series rings while Jerry had to go through five managers before Ozzie Guillen finally delivered a championship in 2005.

A World Series ring, four Division titles, and a 2713-2561 record since La Russa’s 1986 firing were still not enough to wash away the Reinsdorf’s regret. Once the Sox fired Ricky Renteria after the 2020 season, Reinsdorf got his chance to finally make good on his perceived wrong of La Russa back in 1986.

In addition, Reinsdorf is incredibly loyal, especially to his friends. Despite Jerry authorizing La Russa’s firing back in the mid-1980s, the two have remained incredibly close.

Unless Sox fans plan on barricading all entrances to Guaranteed Rate Field until La Russa is let go, Tony is probably not going anywhere this season. Although, La Russa could decide to call it quits himself. There is that glimmer of hope that maybe he wakes up one morning and realizes he is ruining his legacy with how he is running things on the Southside.

He could manage out the season, we can all hope for the best, and then he steps into an advisory role. That would allow general manager Rick Hahn to pick a manager more suited to baseball as it is played now and not a decade ago.

If Tony steps aside during the season or after, the Chicago White Sox job will be an attractive one. Despite the poor start to the 2022 campaign, the Sox have a talented roster in a contention window.

Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada would make a fine manager. However, he has a better chance of replacing his current boss Dusty Baker than he does of becoming the White Sox manager.

The main reason is Reinsdorf likes to stay within the Chicago White Sox family for his managers. The Sox have gone a generation with managers who have previous ties to the White Sox. The last time the Sox went with a manager with no previous ties to the team was when they hired Jerry Manuel in 1998.

Reinsdorf’s ownership group has owned the White Sox since 1981. Only four of the nine managers who have served in the Reinsdorf era had no direct prior connection to the White Sox. The Chicago White Sox have gone nearly two decades without going outside the family so it would be hard to envision them going with a manager with no ties to the team.

There are nine potential candidates the Sox could go with who are or were once a part of the White Sox organization if La Russa steps down this season or after the season.