White Sox expected to interview Ozzie Guillen in managerial search

The White Sox plan to interview Ozzie Guillen next week in their search for a new manager following the retirement of Tony La Russa, according to NBC Sports Chicago’s Michael Allardyce. Guillen has previously expressed interest in returning to the dugout as manager, and the White Sox have previously been reported to prefer an experienced manager to replace La Russa. The White Sox also have been reported to have interest in Astros bench coach Joe Espada, Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol and Braves third base coach Ron Washington, among others, for their managerial vacancy.

Guillen was previously manager of the White Sox for eight seasons starting in 2004, highlighted by a 2005 season that saw his White Sox win 99 games and capture the team’s first World Series championship since 1917. Guillen has a 678-617 record with the White Sox. Following his tenure on the South Side, Guillen managed the Marlins during the 2012 season. Overall, Guillen has a 747-710 record over his nine seasons as a manager.

A reunion with Guillen, whom the White Sox fired 160 games into the 2011 season, would be of particular note considering La Russa himself returned to the White Sox as manager following the 2020 season decades after he had suffered a midseason firing of his own. La Russa managed the White Sox to a 174-150 record across the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with the organization’s 81-81 record in 2022 registering as a particular disappointment for a club that has only just recently emerged from a rebuilding phase. Given the team’s struggles under La Russa, it would be a bold decision to bring in another former White Sox skipper to return to the manager’s seat rather than a new voice from outside the organization. On the other hand, Guillen’s experience not just as a manager, but as a manager who previously brought a World Series championship home to the South Side, could make him uniquely qualified to do it again.

While the White Sox struggled this year, they have significant talent on the roster going into 2023, with stars such as Luis Robert, Tim Anderson and Eloy Jimenez in the outfield and right-hander Dylan Cease having just completed a breakout season in 2022 that will likely see him earn serious consideration for the AL Cy Young award. Still, many key players, such as Lucas Giolito, Yasmani Grandal and Yoan Moncada struggled this season, and the Sox will likely have to count on improvements across their roster to return to the postseason in 2023, regardless of who ends up managing them.