9 great options to replace Tony La Russa as White Sox manager
By Todd Welter
Terry Francona is someone that would be perfect for the Chicago White Sox.
Francona’s contract with the Cleveland Guardians is up after this season. Cleveland would be crazy to let one of the best managers in the game hit the open market.
Then again, Francona has had health issues and is 63. The Guardians could decide to go with a younger, cheaper option as manager.
If that happens and Francona wants to continue managing, the Chicago White Sox should pounce at the chance to bring him back to the organization, even if that means forcing La Russa back into retirement.
The man has over1800 wins and two World Series rings. He might have had a third ring in 2016 if not for a rain delay in Game 7 against the Cubs.
This is a manager who keeps getting the best out of a Guardians franchise that is usually in budget cut mode.
He has ties to the White Sox organization as he was famously Michael Jordan’s manager at Double-A Birmingham. The chances are probably slim of Francona being available. He will most likely be extended or take a year off.
Still, if there is a chance, the Chicago White Sox have to make every effort to bring him to Chicago’s southside.
Dave Martinez should be considered for the Chicago White Sox if available.
Dave Martinez led the Nationals to the 2019 World Series. Since then, the Nationals have been in decline. They are now in last place in the NL East.
The Nationals may decide to part ways with Martinez and go in a different direction. Martinez may even be fired by the All-Star break.
If Martinez is on the market and Francona is not, the White Sox should consider bringing back their former outfielder and first baseman. Martinez played on the Southside from 1995-1997 and was a career .302 hitter when he wore a White Sox uniform.
Having a decent career over three seasons with the White Sox does not qualify Martinez to be the next Sox manager.
Winning the World Series as the Cubs bench coach in 2016 and then in 2019 as the Nationals skipper makes him well qualified to lead the White Sox. The Nationals’ decline has occurred mostly because of player attrition. That has caused the Nationals to go into rebuild mode.
We know Martinez can win a World Series with a team ready to contend now. If Tony La Russa decides to go into an advisor role next season, the Sox should target Martinez.