How the postseason could impact the White Sox manager search

The post How the postseason could impact the White Sox manager search appeared first on Sox On 35th.

With their victory over the Mets on Sunday night, the Dodgers are headed back to the World Series. For the White Sox, however, this could have implications on their ongoing managerial search.

According to previous reports, Chicago’s front office is believed to have interest in Los Angeles coaches Clayton McCullough and Danny Lehmann. McCullough has even been touted as a “leading candidate” by 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine last month, though interviews with both coaches have not yet happened.

Report: Dodgers’ McCullough a “leading candidate” for next White Sox manager

2 new candidates revealed in White Sox managerial search

Under MLB guidelines, the White Sox can ask the Dodgers for permission to speak with the two coaches, which they’ve likely already done. Given the original timeline presented by GM Chris Getz, who said he’d like a new manager hired by the GM Meetings on November 5, the team could aim to make a hire before the games begin this Friday.

McCullough, 44, was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in 2002 after attending East Carolina University. He only spent a few seasons in professional baseball before transitioning to his post-playing career, starting as a volunteer assistant coach for his alma mater. From there, McCullough worked his way up by serving as a manager for the Blue Jays’ rookie and A-ball affiliates from 2007-2014, during which his teams compiled a 629-559 record.

The former catching product then began his time in the Dodgers’ organization, serving in various roles over his first seven seasons, including a stint as the team’s minor league field coordinator. McCullough also spent 2020 overseeing the team’s alternate site at the University of Southern California during the COVID season. He became the team’s first base coach prior to the 2021 season and has remained in that role to this day.

Last offseason, McCullough reportedly interviewed for the Cleveland Guardians job that ultimately went to Stephen Vogt. He was also considered for other openings before the 2023 season, including with the Mets and the Royals.

Lehmann, 39, was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Rice University and played in their farm system until 2013. After his playing career ended, he joined the Dodgers in 2015 as their Advance Video Scout and stayed in that role for three years.

In 2018, the Dodgers promoted Lehmann to Game Planning and Communications coach. He served as a Dodgers’ special assistant in 2019, before resuming his previous coaching position in 2020. The team promoted him to bench coach in 2023, where he currently still serves.

In addition to the aforementioned candidates, many others from organizations with winning backgrounds have been publicly linked to the job.

The list represents quite a large breadth of experience, though almost all names are either currently in the dugout in some role, a former MLB player, or both. With even more names likely in the running, it’s unclear if the White Sox are willing to pause their search to continue formal interviews beyond the World Series. If not, then be on the lookout for the White Sox to make a decision and announce a hire as early as this week.

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