It feels fantastic to finally be able to write the words: The Chicago White Sox season has come to a merciful end. 2024 is likely, I hope, the worst White Sox season the Southside faithful will endure. In the meantime, we can take in some great baseball throughout the rest of October.
If you're a sicko like me, you may already be thinking about what the White Sox can do this offseason to, at the very least, be "normal bad" and not one of the worst teams ever to play the sport. The Chairman, Jerry Reinsdorf, stated such proposition at the season's conclusion.
He wrote, "I commit to you that everyone associated with this White Sox is focused on returning this organization to the level of success we all expect and desire."
The statement ends with, "We recognize, on a daily basis, that it is our responsibility to earn your trust, attention, and support. We vow to take that approach daily as we put the work in this offseason to be better. We owe it to each and every one of you."
All Style, No Substance
However, in true White Sox fashion, Reinsdorf merely pays lip service to the fan base about a commitment to winning. Jerry Reinsdorf's true focus lies in securing funding to build a new stadium, an initiative that came to light roughly a year ago.
While his baseball club, which, in his words , he wants to make better before he goes, languishes in MLB's deepest depths, his priority is angling politically for a new residence.
Thus far, the City of Chicago has seemed lukewarm about publicly funding a $2 billion dollar project without the Chairman putting skin in the game . Illinois State leadership has yet to show much appetite for financing the endeavor.
Reinsdorf is the second-longest tenured owner in the sport, having purchased the team for $20 million in 1981. Forbes ranks them the 15th most valuable team in MLB, with a franchise valuation of a little more than $2 billion. The 88-year-old reportedly owns roughly 19% of the White Sox, making him the majority owner.
Despite the franchise's efforts to schmooze politicians with boat tours and a makeshift baseball field, the project has yet to reach anything but dead ends. Nevertheless, political posturing will continue over the years as the expiration of the lease on Guaranteed Rate Field looms.
A New Twist
A report that emerged yesterday only confirmed the drama yet to come. Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic reported that Reinsdorf is discussing a sale of the Chicago White Sox. The progress of those discussions is unclear, but reportedly, talks are with a group led by former player and executive Dave Stewart.
Chicago's nose dive from division champions in 2021 to 121 losses in 2024 has disillusioned fans, sparking calls for Reinsdorf to sell the team.
While a sale might seem like a cause for optimism, Stewart and his business partner, Lonnie Murray, have led an ownership group working towards bringing an expansion team to Nashville, a city long considered for and interested in a baseball franchise. The former Oakland Athletic once assembled an investment group that unsuccessfully tried to purchase the Oakland Coliseum. He and Murray are also working to bring an NWSL team to Nashville .
Reinsdorf and Stewart both denied The Atheltic's request for comment.
Nashville Funding Fallout
Stewart's ties to expansion-team efforts in Nashville caused enormous consternation among the White Sox online fan community.
However, moving the White Sox to Nashville would be fraught with problems. First, Nashville recently committed over a billion dollars of taxpayer money to build a stadium for the Tennessee Titans, raising serious questions about how the city could afford to fund a new baseball stadium.
Where would the funds come from for a new baseball stadium, considering such projects require massive investments? Expecting a new stadium to materialize while the city is already heavily invested in other projects seems unrealistic.
Moreover, relocating the team would eliminate one of MLB's top expansion city candidates when the league actively seeks to add two more teams to bring the total to 32. The move would be a reshuffling more than actual expansion, burning two markets—Chicago and Nashville—in the process.
Beyond financial concerns, Stewart's track record raises some red flags about his ability to build a contender. The Arizona Diamondbacks fired Stewart after two years as general manager after failing to create a competitive team. If Stewart couldn't succeed in Arizona, why would anyone believe he could turn the White Sox into contenders?
Even if he does manage to build a successful team, why would that team leave a large metropolitan area where they could thrive only to move to a smaller market where the fanbase is less established? Relocating to a market roughly 20% of the size of Chicago doesn't add up.
A Bridge to Sell You
At the core of this discussion is the leverage an owner might exert to secure a favorable deal.
Relocating a team to Nashville could be more cost-effective than building a new franchise from scratch. Constructing a new team involves an initial startup cost of over $2 billion , plus long-term investments in facilities, fan engagement, and competitive development.
Moving an established team means an owner inherits an existing infrastructure that can be redeployed in a new city, avoiding some of the challenges of starting fresh. It's also a significantly less expensive proposition. Purely from a business perspective, this is a pragmatic move.
However, in this case, there is little leverage. Moving an existing team to Nashville eliminates one of the few desirable expansion cities, complicating MLB's growth strategy. Relocation does little or nothing to address the franchise's underlying issues. It also doesn't make financial sense when the White Sox could be revitalized in their current, much larger market.
Chicago is one of only a few cities that can support two major league baseball teams. Other rumored cities, though strong candidates for future expansion, lack historical connection or the population density to justify such a move.
The absence of clear advantages raises questions about whether such a dramatic shift is necessary.
What's On Tap Next?
The White Sox moving to a smaller market raises more questions than it answers. While trying to create leverage for ownership may be the primary motive, the long-term financial implications of relocating remain murky at best. Ultimately, relocating carries significant risks.
What's clear, though, is that this potential move is far from a simple fix and likely won't solve the more profound issues plaguing the team. Whether the franchise remains in Chicago or moves, the organization must address the team's on-field performance and rebuild its connection with its loyal, but frustrated, fanbase.
While the drama surrounding the team's potential new stadium, sale, and relocation will take many twists and turns, Reinsdorf seems inclined to part ways with the White Sox.
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