The White Sox have been on the hunt for their new manager for some time now, but Jesse Rogers of ESPN reported this morning that the club is “getting closer” to making a hire for the position. In particular, Rogers reports two names that are no longer in the running for the job: Dodgers first base coach Clayton McCullough and Padres special assistant A.J. Ellis.
McCullough has been a popular managerial candidate in recent years, coming up in last year’s managerial searched conducted by the Mets, Brewers, and Guardians after previously being a finalist to manage the Royals before the club ultimately selected Matt Quatraro. That widespread interest as McCullough as a candidate has continued this year, as in addition to Chicago’s interest in him he’s also known to have interviewed for the Marlins’ managerial vacancy last week, making him one of just three candidates confirmed to have conducted an interview. Prior to his stint with the Dodgers as first base coach, he previously held the role of minor league field coordinator in L.A. and managed in the minor leagues with the Blue Jays.
Ellis, meanwhile, is a veteran of 11 MLB seasons but was always a bit of an unusual candidate for the job given that he has no managerial or coaching experience in the majors or minors. Since retiring from his playing career, Ellis has served as a special assistant to A.J. Preller’s front office in San Diego with a focus on player development. That development experience could obviously be useful to a club like the White Sox, who lost 121 games this year and seem destined to focus on rebuilding with young, up-and-coming players over the next few seasons. Per Rogers, however, Ellis removed himself from the running due to family considerations.
The pair join Rangers bench coach and offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker on the list of candidates who are no longer in the running for the position. Even without those three in contention for the role, the White Sox still have a number of names rumored to be in the mix for the job. Former Angels manager Phil Nevin and outgoing Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, and veteran manager Buck Showalter have all been floated as names under consideration for the role, but the White Sox are also evidently considering a number of names without previous big league managerial experience. Even with McCullough, Ellis, and Ecker no longer in the mix, Chicago is stil known to have interest in Rangers associate manager Will Venable, and Tigers bench coach George Lombard, Dodgers bench coach Danny Lehman, and Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso as they look to turn the page on their disastrous 2024 season with a fresh voice in the dugout.
Venable always impressed me with his baseball knowledge.
I think (and hope) he waits till Bochy retires and takes over the Rangers
Can’t blame McCullough and Ellis from looking at the Sox’ situation, then running in the other direction. getz looking for someone without managerial experience? Sure, why not. Might as well hire someone with the baseball experience of Grifol. With Jerry and Getz running the show, might as well get someone who’s content to sit back and watch this disaster of a team break the Cleveland Spiders all-time record for most losses in a season. Hopeless and clueless should be the motto of the ones running this disorganization.
It’s weird to blame Getz when he inherited that disaster of a roster and practically no farm system. He could go out and sign Soto, Burnes, Alonso, and Fried and the White Sox would still finish under .500 next season.
Good for Ellis putting his family first. The White Sox manager is not a job for someone who is married or has a family. Putting your life on the line just getting to the park and back can cause strain in a marriage. It’s like what happens when someone is deployed or the wife of a fireman. They never know if their husband is coming home. No amount of money is worth being employed at 35th and Shields
That’s just silly.
Quite possibly the dumbest thing I’ve read this month.
By far the most dangerous, unruly and uninhabitable areas surrounding a stadium in all of baseball and that includes Camden. Look it up.
just stop and grow up.
Just tell him to STFU and he’ll mute you like the puss that he is.
Look it up dude. It’s a fact. Look it up
Absolutely false.
You’re cubbies fan, right?
I don’t have to because I lived there. Parking lots and an expressway surround the ballpark. How scary.
I’m not a fan of any baseball team. It’s a dumb sport.
Why are you here?
To recruit for the NHL
How many scrennames does this clown use? No idea what real estate goes for in Bridgeport and Pilsen
You can get a good price if you’re willing to overlook the body chalk outline in the house fella
Again, just stop and grow up.or grow a brain, either one.
Let Buck Showalter have a crack at it. At this point, you’ve don’t have much to lose…except more games.
This is all a bit of a charade. It’s going to be Venable, and it was going to be him from the start. The Sox’ main concern–always has been–is to be the anti-Cubs, and choosing Venable will be a way of doing that. I’ll explain no more, but I think y’all can figure out what I mean. (And I say this as a Cubs fan who is embarrassed at this current aspect of my team.)
Cubs fans always have had a superiority complex.
Opposite. I’m ashamed of the Cubs for what they are doing, as regards refusing to sign players (or coaches) of color. Also, I think Venable will be a good manager for the Sox as they get better. Good choice.
That’s not true. 14 players on their 40 man roster are not whitey.
I know. But most of those are walk-ons who never stick on the 26-man (active) roster. And, though this is painful to say, they are light-skinned players of color. The issue for Hoyer and company seems to be one of pigment…I know that noticing other people’s racism nowadays leaves one open to being called a racist oneself, but that’s shooting the messenger, and I can take the heat…Put it this way: Can you imagine anyone who looks like, and self-presents like, say, Elly de la Cruz, coming up to bat for the Cubs? I can’t. I would love to be proved wrong.
Sammy Sosa went white on his own after his playing days were over. And I guess they were kidding when then commissioned statues of Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins.
Dont you ever say another word about the Cubs again.
Yeah, they were’t always racist. And I saw those stars play! But now they’re racist.
It is a kind of “soft” racism: players who self-present the way (some) contemporary black players do, seem to Hoyer like they are not “team players” or don’t “trust the process” or any of those other clichés.
I’m a 70-year-old, lifelong Cubs fan, and I am going to say what I want to about the team, your empty threats notwithstanding.
Well could they Consider Brandon Hyde
Take the Orioles manager please!!!
I can’t believe you’re that unhappy with Hyde. He didn’t hype up every O’s prospect over the past four years. And he didn’t trade away Norby and Stowers for Rogers.
The grass isn’t always greener.
Who would want this job?
Someone who hasn’t had an offer in ages. I’m looking at you, John Farrell. Maybe Farrell can insert Crochet as a pinch-runner and melt his career.
White Sox bad
If even the BEST manager was worth 10 more wins a season, that would put the WSox at 51 – 110.
Yikes.
Everyone that has recused themselves from the job are politely saying no thank you.
Just have an AI manage them until Jerry either sells or dies I’m sure you’ll get the same results as an actual person (none)
I’m a pretty big Dodgers fan, and I could not have told you the name of the bench coach. I am dimly aware of him as The Guy Who Looks Like Tyler Glasnow.
Then you’re not a fan.
They probably wanted to be paid in Dollars not Pesos. 2 million Pesos seems like a lot until you realize it’s about 25 bucks American.
The White Sox are currently considering MLB the Show players that actually had winning records with this team last season for their managerial job…
Mr. Reinsdorf please sell the team. Terrible brand of baseball from ownership to low minors. ask the Southside.
“Meanwhile” needs to come at the start of the sentence. It can’t come in the middle between commas.