Tony La Russa who has been with the White Sox for two seasons in his second stint with the team has decided he won’t return to the White Sox and will retire. La Russa has been out indefinitely since August 30th due to health concerns and based on what has been happening with them lately he announced he can’t manage anymore. Sad to see this happen but it was the decision as La Russa had to make. La Russa announced on Monday that there is a issue with the peacemaker he had implanted in February that forced him to step away from the team. During his absence, a second issue was diagnosed, forcing him to take an indefinite leave. La Russa had one year left on his current contract and added this from today’s press conference “At no time this season did either issue negatively affect my responsibilities as White Sox manager,” La Russa said in the statement. “However, it has become obvious that the length of the treatment and recovery process for this second health issue makes it impossible for me to be the White Sox manager in 2023. The timing of this announcement now enables the front office to include filling the manager position with their other off-season priorities.” The White Sox had high expectations in 2022 and sadly they disappointed where they won’t make the Playoffs and yes there were a lot of injuries but La Russa also made some questionable decisions as well as he wasn’t meant for today’s game of Major League Baseball as he is getting up there in age. I wish Tony La Russa all the best as it simply didn’t work out coming back to the White Sox for a second stint despit La Russa winning the AL Central in 2021 but they lost in the first round of the MLB Playoffs to the Houston Astros.
Here are some possible candidates on who could replace Tony La Russa:
White Sox Bench Coach Miguel Cario is a possibility but with I am guessing they will go with someone else. I definitely think he will get an interview but with that 8 game losing streak recently including a crushing sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians will probably mean someone else gets the job but however he could stay on as a bench coach under the next manager.
Washington Nationals Manager Davey Martinez currently has one year left on his contract and with the Washington Nationals about to enter a full rebuild and couldthis could be a time for the White Sox to scoop him as there next manager. Martinez is familiar with the city of the Chicago as he played for the White Sox from 1995-97 and was the bench coach under Joe Maddon with the Cubs when they won it all in 2016. Martinez was the manager of the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals and I think he could be the manager the White Sox are looking for.
Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada would be a great choice for the White Sox who has interviewed with other teams in years past who were looking for managers and I think he is ready to be a manager in the Big Leagues. It is possible he could succeed Dusty Baker whenever Dusty decides to retire in Houston as there next manager but I really hope the White Sox interview Joe Espada. I think there are other candiates the White Sox will interview as well.