9:07am: The White Sox announced the promotions, naming Williams executive VP and naming Hahn senior VP and general manager. Williams will "maintain oversight and final approval on major baseball decisions,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said.
8:14am: The White Sox will announce today that they've promoted their top two baseball executives, according to Mark Gonzales of Chicago Tribune. Kenny Williams will now oversee the baseball operations department and Rick Hahn will take over Williams' duties as general manager. The long-anticipated transition will be announced at a news conference today.
Williams, 48, has been Chicago's GM since the end of the 2000 season. He is the sixth longest tenured general manager in baseball, behind only Terry Ryan (Twins) Brian Sabean (Giants), Billy Beane (Athletics), Brian Cashman (Yankees) and Dan O'Dowd (Rockies).The White Sox have reached the playoffs twice under Williams; they won the 2005 World Series and won the AL Central in 2008. Chicago finished the 2012 season in second place with an 85-77 record.
Hahn featured prominently on MLBTR's list of GM candidates last summer. He was considered for general manager jobs last offseason, including one with the Cubs. The 41-year-old has also been linked to general manager jobs with the Pirates, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets and Angels, according to Gonzales.
Great move by the White Sox, locking up Rick Hahn and keeping Kenny around.
who votes this down. no sox fan in their right mind would want rick hahn going anywhere.
Wonder what AA thinks of this. Kenny seems to be one of his favorite trading partners.
It feels strange that the Sox only made the playoffs twice in the last eight years, it feels like more than that. I guess I’m distracted somewhat by the couple of years recently that they’ve hung around all season and then fell short.
Twice in the last 20 years too.
Actually, I think it’s 3 times in the last 20.
yes there’s been a disturbing trend in bad septembers. one theory is them being built with a lot of guys who score with the home run, while the ball doesn’t carry as much in september.
This may be a dumb question – and I have been wondering about it since Alderson was a VP in San Diego, Theo got the VP job in Chicago, and now Kenny Williams got the VP job in Chicago – but if they oversee baseball operations, do they essentially call the shots that the General Manager normally would? In other words when I think of GM’s I think of them as the individual making and negotiating the transactions. I figure the VP’s essentially approve everything beforehand. But what confuses me is that whenever I read about the Chicago Cubs for example, they discuss their operations as if it is Theo Epstein making and deciding the moves and not necessarily Jed Hoyer – which perhaps is the case? Does every team have a VP of Baseball Operations? Do most teams – like the Mets or Yankees for example – combine the two positions? Just wanted clarification.
Great questions, Loody…I’m curious as well.
the VP of baseball operations deals with EVERYTHING baseball related. They still have final say in trades, signings, promotions and demotions, etc..But they tend to step back and let the GM work offering advice, and final class if the GM isnt sure. THe VP gets more power in scouting, personnel, player development. Basically where the GM is in-charge of players only the VP is in-charge of everything. (a glorified pay raise and respect move)
Does every team have a VP of Baseball Operations?
In short, the VP in in charge of the organization and the GM is in charge of the team.
Making Hahn GM was a good call, as was removing Williams from that position.
Great great great. Rick Hahn has already done a great job with contract negotiations, but he’ll also bring a less sentimental, more analytical approach to the GM position. Gone are the days of “Kenny always gets his man [even if it’s 5 years too late]”.