Why White Sox fans should worry if Reinsdorf sells
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Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf in 2019. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is open to selling the franchise, according to The Athletic.
Why it matters: The issue is not selling the team but who Reinsdorf wants to sell the team to.
Context: Reinsdorf is reportedly in talks with a group that is hell-bent on bringing a baseball franchise to Nashville.
Flashback: It's not the first time Reinsdorf has flirted with the Music City. The embattled owner reportedly met with Nashville mayor Freddie O'Connell during last year's baseball meetings.
- The discussion was reportedly "introductory in nature," and at the time Reinsdorf brushed aside any seriousness to the talks.
The intrigue: Chicagoans are very familiar with Reinsdorf's past dealings. In the 1980s, Reinsdorf threatened to leave for St. Petersburg, Florida, unless the state ponied up cash for a new stadium to replace the aging Comiskey Park.
- It worked. The state helped finance New Comiskey Park (now Guaranteed Rate), which opened in 1991.
Between the lines: Reinsdorf's alleged shift also coincides with his push to have the city and state help finance a new stadium in the South Loop.
Yes, but: Gov. JB Pritzker has thrown cold water on allocating public funds for private stadiums.
Zoom out: The reported interest in Nashville is a complete reversal for Reinsdorf, who has resisted selling the team, signaling he wants to pass the franchise on to his heirs.
- The 88-year-old bought the Sox for $20 million in 1981. It's now valued at $2 billion.
- The White Sox released a statement on Wednesday that did not address whether Reinsdorf is selling, saying they don't comment on rumors.
Reality check: This report comes on the heels of the Sox's worst season in modern major league history, which saw them lose 121 games. Attendance plummeted during the record-losing season, and the media bullied Reinsdorf, imploring him to cash out.
Between the lines: Reinsdorf, who also owns the Bulls, is one of Chicago's most notorious owners. He brought six NBA championships and one World Series to town.
The other side: He's been criticized for botching the end of the Bulls dynasty and has been maligned for frugal spending for both franchises.
The bottom line: It's unclear whether this is just another ploy to get state leaders to change their stance on funding a new stadium, as Reinsdorf has successfully done in the past.
- Fans have been clamoring for change at the top, but this may not be what they hoped for.