Opinion: The Possibility Reinsdorf Selling the White Sox Raises Hopes and Fears

Nothing good comes easy for White Sox fans.

White Sox ballparkPhoto byCreative Commons: Ken Lund

Yesterday a report from the Athletic surfaced that indicated Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf was in negotiations with a group headed by Dave Stewart to sell the White Sox. The idea of Reinsdorf selling the White Sox makes most White Sox fans euphoric. However, with Reinsdorf, there is always a disgusting foreign object in the punchbowl.

The issue with Reinsdorf selling the team to the group headed up by Dave Stewart is the possibility of the team then moving to Nashville. The idea of Stewart bringing an MLB team to Nasville was explored in an article in Sports Illustrated a few months ago.

The report of Reisndorf being in talks with the Stewart group comes on the heels of Reinsdorf being rebuffed by the Illinois state legislature in his attempt to secure public funding for a new ballpark. At that time, Reinsdorf indicated that if the Sox couldn’t secure public funding for a new stadium the team might have to relocate.

In addition, some months earlier, Reinsdorf met with Nashville mayor, Freddie O’Connell. This stirred speculation that Reinsdorf would move his team there. Reinsdorf made a point at the time of the meeting to say he never threatened to move the team. Actually, the threat was implied, if not overt.

It’s never easy for White Sox fans

While Sox fans would love to see Reinsdorf sell the team. Selling to a group that would move the team to Nashville isn’t a particularly appealing option. Though, at this point, the idea of Reisndorf’s continued ownership or the idea of the team being moved doesn’t matter much. At least if the team moved, I could pick another AL team to root for.

Stewart had a short tenure as the Diamondbacks GM, and it didn’t go well. Tony La Russa also spent some time with the Diamondbacks, and it also didn’t go well. Tony is still rumored to have Jerry Reinsdorf’s ear. Why does the aura surrounding the White Sox always reek of failure, moth balls and Old Spice?

If Reinsdorf wants to sell the Sox, there should be no shortage of potential buyers. No doubt some would even want to keep the team in Chicago.

Questions abound

Is Reinsdorf serious about selling the team or is it a leverage move to extract public money for a new ballpark?

If a Stewart led group buys the team, will they actually move the team?

Would MLB allow the new ownership to move the team?

Is selling the team to a group that would move it be Reinsdorf’s final act of thumbing his nose at Sox fans?

Final thoughts

I’m reminded of an old song done by Mike and the Mechanics. It was called, All I Need is a Miracle. That title about sums up the plight of White Sox fans. But one of the lines really reminds me of Jerry Reinsdorf. It goes:

Go if you want to go,

Stay if you want to stay

Please Jerry, move along one way or the other. The lack of self-awareness it takes to petition for public money while presenting the worst product ever seen in MLB history is mind boggling. The combination of ineptitude and arrogance is overpowering.

Get better or leave, but the present situation isn’t acceptable.

If Reinsdorf does sell the team to a group that moves the franchise, it would seal his fate as the most disliked guy in the history of Chicago sports.

This story first appeared in The Forkball.