Dodgers fan favorite graciously bows out of White Sox managerial race

The 2024 White Sox were an indisputable dumpster fire of epic proportions, but you didn't need us to tell you that. The 121 losses speak for themselves, but a cavalcade of reporting has revealed both symptoms and causes — fractured clubhouse relationships, fueled by an owner too set in his own ways and inclined to hand out favors (in the form of jobs) to friends.

The White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol in August, and interim manager Grady Sizemore did no better.

The White Sox could see massive changes right down to the root this offseason. Jerry Reinsdorf is open to the possibility of selling the team, which would end his 43-year ownership, the second-longest in baseball behind the Steinbrenners' ownership of the Yankees.

So it's hard to tell how exactly the Sox are lining up their priorities, but it's fairly easy to say that finding a new manager is at the top of that list. Former Dodger (and Clayton Kershaw's ex-personal catcher) and current Padres special assistant AJ Ellis was under consideration for the role, but he pulled out this weekend for "family considerations."

Former Dodger AJ Ellis pulls out of White Sox manager race citing "family considerations"

A couple of Dodgers employees have also been in the running; current first base coach Clayton McCullough, who also interviewed for the vacant position with the Marlins, is also out, but bench coach Danny Lehmann is still reportedly being considered by the White Sox.

Among Chicago's other candidates are Sizemore, Giants bench coach Craig Albernaz, 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker (recently ousted from his job in Miami), and former Angels manager Phil Nevin.

It makes sense that Ellis, having spent the vast majority of his career in LA and the last year of it in San Diego, wouldn't want to uproot his family from southern California. He might be better off for it, anyway. He might've avoided a poison chalice.