5:43pm: Williams didn't comment on Nightengale's report, telling reporters (including CSNChicago.com's Dan Hayes) that the club is focused on the playoff race and won't discuss contract issues until the offseason.
3:03pm: The White Sox will promote their top two baseball executives following a surprising season that has the team leading its division. The team is expected to promote longtime general manager Kenny Williams to the role of vice president of baseball operations and shift assistant GM Rick Hahn into the GM role, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Williams has been Chicago's GM since the end of the 2000 season. He is the fifth longest tenured general manager in baseball, behind only 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 entered Thursday's games with a 81-67 record and a two game lead over the Tigers in the AL Central.
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.
Love it. We needed a way to keep Rick Hahn here.
I agree this makes a lot of sense
I wonder what this will do to the win at all costs NOW idealogy. I’m assuming it won’t change but who knows??
People who aren’t very good usually get promoted.
Sounds like your bitter from experience
Fantastic. I was worried we’d lose this last off season. Seemed odd to me that we would let him go and keep Kenny on. (Not that I dont like Kenny, but Rick seems to be a unanimous pick as a future top GM) Can’t wait to see what he does this off season.
headline should read “White Sox keeping Kenny Williams the hell away from personnel decisions”
let the hahn dynasty begin!
HOORAY! Hopefully Jerry gives both KW and Hahn a better contract than they gave Mark Tehean.