Would Jerry Reinsdorf selling the Chicago White Sox fix the team's problems?
The idea is valid, but it could be a be careful what you wish for.
The Chicago White Sox are the worst team in baseball. They are back to being historically bad instead of fun bad.
The team saw a title window abruptly slam shut last season mostly because of internal dysfunction and incompetence. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf has been the one constant in the team's decay since the organization won the 2008 AL Central.
Reinsdorf's unwillingness to hand over a $100 million contract or extension, the going rate for premium talent, rehiring Tony La Russa during the last competitive window, and putting self-imposed spending restrictions is a big reason the White Sox are a mess.
Add in his conducting the worst general manager search known to mankind last summer, and that is a big reason why Jerry just selling the team will cure the White Sox' problems.
Ozzie Guillen Jr recently made a fair point about being careful what you wish for. The Guillen family has deep ties to Reinsdorf so you might be saying it is just a loyal take, but take out biases from both sides and it makes sense to be cautious to go with the devil you do not know. On the flip side, it still does not dismiss the calls to sell the team.
Here is the thing, historically speaking, Jerry Reinsdorf is the one owner in franchise history who has spent money. Charles Comiskey was so cheap that the 1919 White Sox threw a World Series. Bill Veeck is celebrated for making the Sox a draw and keeping them in Chicago in the 1970s. He also was not wealthy enough to afford big payrolls once free agency rolled out.
Reinsdorf did give Albert Belle one of the first double-digit annual salaries in MLB history. The 2022 club may have been a huge underachiever but the payroll was over $200 million. Plus, spending does not automatically buy you a World Series just ask the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres last season.
As Ozzie Guillen Jr said during the Blackout Show Podcast, a deep-pocketed owner can come in and be even worse. Just ask the Washington Commanders and the Oakland Athletics fanbases.
The final warning for wanting a new owner is that a billionaire might come in and decide to move the club. Again, ask Oakland about that.
What will really save the Chicago White Sox?
Six people in this organization will have to acquire the prospects and put in place a plan to develop them to get the franchise back to being competitive. Like it or not, it starts with general manager Chris Getz.
This team he put together is a train wreck, but Reinsdorf will unlikely fire him after a season. Although, he did remove Hawk Harrellson after 1985 so there is precedence. Since Jerry did not interview any external candidates before promoting Getz to the job last summer, let's assume he is safe.
Assistant general managers Josh Barfield and Jin Wong must construct better big-league rosters in the future. Consdering the White Sox have just two guaranteed contracts officially on the books for next season, there is money to play with to get some upgrades on the roster.
Amateur scouting director Mike Shirley has to hit on at least four or five starters in this year's draft. The Sox have the No. 5 overall pick, and since they will not pick in the top nine in next year's draft, this pick has to be a franchise-altering player.
Then it is up to pitching advisor Brian Bannister and player development director Paul Janish to get these kids through the system and become productive players. If those six achieve this, then it does not matter who the owner is.
Remember, all Jerry can do is set the budget.
It would be nice if he stopped putting a self-imposed salary cap. That is how you get Josh Harrison in 2022 at second base instead of a free agent who could move the needle toward making the playoffs again.
It comes down to Getz and his lieutenants identifying better players than Paul DeJong and Nicky Lopez in free agency next offseason. It is also putting together a roster that actually hits home runs since they play 81 home games at homer-friendly ballpark.
The focus this offseason was upgrading the defense and the clubhouse culture. The clubhouse culture is better but the defense is still a mess. The better idea is focus on hitters who put the ball in the air, understand the strike zone to get on-base when it is not their favor, and can run the bases well.
Ideally, prospects Bryan Ramos, Colson Montgomery, and Jacob Gonzalez will do that next season and play defense well. Maybe Oscar Colas' second run with the club will finally solve the problem in the right field. That still does not mean free agency should be ignored nor should the philosophy of adding power in the offseason. Then keep developing the young pitching and maybe this team will have something.
The biggest area you would love to see Chris Getz exploit is Jerry's faith in his GM to start paying that going rate of over $100 million for premium talent or on the flip side, keep expanding the analytics and the scouting. Heck, maybe make sure the pitching lab is up-to-date like most clubs have.
Maybe someone should try to speak the business language to Jerry and convince him there is a return on the investment in those areas because it means cheaper players who are usually young and in their prime performance years.
Ideally, Getz and Shirley start drafting up the middle Rounds 1-10, preferably hitting in the first three rounds. Just look at the Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, and Tampa Bay Rays and how they have become successful.
Getz, Janish, and Bannister must establish a culture in the minors where everyone plays the same style of baseball from rookie ball through the majors. It is what Theo Epstein did with the Cubs.
Maybe giving Theo an ownership stake would be a better idea, but that is just wishful thinking. Just like it is wishful thinking to think Jerry will sell the team while he is still above ground.
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