It is effectively just confirmation of what seemed logical once Tony La Russa stepped away from the team for health reasons this year – then again, how much of this entire story has proceeded based on logic? – but La Russa’s tenure as manager of the Chicago White Sox is definitely over.
He is expected to retire from managing altogether tomorrow, per Bob Nightengale:
La Russa will retire a day shy of his 78th birthday, having led the White Sox to two disappointing seasons in a reunion ill-conceived by owner Jerry Reinsdorf. The stated reason for retiring before fulfilling the final year of his three-year contract is that his doctors have urged he not manage again.
The White Sox will begin their search for a replacement, needing someone who can push them right back in, because the core they have is designed to be competitive right now, and maybe not for many more years from here. It’s gotta be extremely galling to White Sox fans that they may have wasted the last two years ….