Reports surfaced last week that the Rangers had given permission for Donnie Ecker to interview with the White Sox about their managerial opening, but Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (X link) wrote that Ecker is no longer under consideration for the job. Ecker will instead return for what will presumably be his fourth season as the Rangers’ bench coach and offensive coordinator.
Ecker’s departure from the search could simply be due to a personal preference to remain in Texas, rather than necessarily a sign that the White Sox are getting any closer to hiring their new skipper. SoxMachine’s James Fegan described the managerial search last week as still being short of any official list of finalists, even though the team had already eliminated some candidates while still aiming to speak to some other names working for teams still alive in the playoffs. Dodgers coaches Clayton McCullough and Danny Lehmann are two names linked to the Sox that might fit this description, though a wide range of names are rumored to be on Chicago’s list. Most of the rumored candidates (like Ecker) would be first-time managers at the big league level, though Skip Schumaker and Phil Nevin both have past experience running MLB clubs.
More from both the AL and NL Central…
- A pair of IL stints due to right knee inflammation limited to Lance Lynn to just two starts over the last two months of the season, but Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that Lynn is feeling better “and expects to have a normal offseason of preparation.” This is good news for Lynn as he heads into his 14th Major League season, and despite the knee issues, Lynn still had a solid 3.84 ERA over 117 1/3 innings for the Cardinals. Since the Cards are planning to cut payroll in a rebuild year, it isn’t a guarantee that Lynn’s $12MM club option ($1MM buyout) will be exercised, though St. Louis is probably more likely to pick up the option and then shop Lynn on the trade market this winter.
- In other Cardinals news, Goold reports that longtime front office staffer Matt Slater is leaving the organization. Slater has been with the team since 2007 working as a scout, director of player personnel, and (for the last seven seasons) as a special assistant to the GM in a player procurement capacity. These roles meant that Slater was directly involved in the acquisition of several notable Cards players, and Goold notes that Slater was particularly influential in the team’s international scouting practices. This resume drew Slater some attention from the Tigers and Phillies in past GM searches, and he probably shouldn’t have much trouble landing a new gig with another team.
- The Pirates have hired Kevin Tenenbaum to lead their analytics department as the club’s new VP of research and development, according to reporter John Dreker (X link). The 32-year-old Tenenbaum has spent the last seven seasons in Cleveland’s R&D department, working as the director in 2022 and then VP of the Guardians’ analytics team this past season. This experience with another lower-spending team is surely of interest to the Pirates, especially given the Guards have been a lot more consistently competitive than the Bucs have in recent years despite working with generally comparative payroll.
HumbleO'sFanWhoHatesYourFace
If a tree falls in the forest, and nobody is there to hear it– do you have a face?
Bucket Number Six
Yes, but please don’t hate it.
Another Cardinals article. This site is biased towards the Cubs.
HumbleO'sFanWhoHatesYourFace
Everybody is biased. We get to choose where we frequent. I would never hate your face. Your proper manners imply you are worthy of love. And I’m happy to share
mike127
Bucket—the sun isn’t anywhere near risen where I am and I’ve already read the comment of the day. Appreciate it—I know it’s going to be a good day.
TheMan 3
Maybe the reason why there’s no articles about the Cubs is because no one of significant value cares?
Unclemike1525
I thought Nutting’s idea of an Analytics department was a 16 year old kid with a Commodore 64.
17dizzy
The best and most beneficial resignation from the Cardinals for 2025 would be John Mozeliak’s —— following his firing of Oli Marmol.
Sean McCorick
Next year is Mozeliak’s last year. They’ve already announced that.
Marmol is still going to be the manager next year. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Bloom fires him and brings in someone he hand picks for manager
spudchukar
Well if they had a history of being a competitive team, then maybe they wouldn’t be viewed as a laughing stock.
avenger65
Inflammation in his knee…Gee, I wonder what could be weighing Lynn down.
Acoss1331
Lance needs to trim down some. He’s not getting any younger…
solaris602
Picking up his option at $14M and trying to shop him seems like a fool’s errand. Is there anyone at all in the league who believes he’s worth that much even for 2 seasons?
spudchukar
I do! Even if he fits into along reliever role. He would be an asset for a number of teams!
Rsox
Apparently Ecker is waiting for a Major League managerial opportunity to become available…
panj341
Nothing is going to change for the Pirates no matter who they hire as long as they employ Cherington and Shelton
solaris602
I disagree with you on Cherington, but Shelton seems like a guy who is perfectly fine with managing a team stuck in neutral.
Dice 66
Ready for some trades! Everyone should be looking for GOOD bullpen help.
Atlanta Jack
Hope the White Sox get a new VP of research and p
Atlanta Jack
Player development.
spudchukar
This comment isn’t related but when the Cards traded Edman it was tragic. Players of his skill set are not appreciated. Nor paid. Teammates know.
17dizzy
As a Cardinals Fan — I totally agree with you about Tommy Edman!!
Dumping the most Versatile athlete on the Cardinals… (Edman) ….. for basically nothing is exactly how the Mozeliak has torn down the Cardinals Franchise over the past 10 years.
What was mentioned after Edman won the NLCS MVP.
Mozeliak’s Casts off Cardinals have been named either the AL or NL playoff series MVP The last 3 out of 4 years????
Great job John Mozeliak!!!!