According to Ken Rosenthal, the Chicago White Sox are targeting our beloved bench coach Dave Martinez for their next manager. Ozzie Guillen was traded to the "Miami" Marlins in late September and the White Sox have been in the hunt for a new manager since.
Rosenthal also reports that Martinez has been at the top of Chicago's short list. Second is Yankee bench coach Tony Pena, but neither can be spoken with while their teams are in the post season. With Terry Francona on the market, one would think the list could change.
Joe Maddon, class act he is, would be thrilled for Martinez.
↵↵↵"He would be very, very difficult to replace, but I would do somersaults (if he got the Sox job)," Maddon said. "He is absolutely ready. He's got a really quick baseball mind. He's got that one-step-ahead vision. He's a good instructor, and he's going to be a good planner and in-game kind of manager."
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Martinez played for the White Sox from 1995-97 and was drafted by the Cubs in 1983. His second oldest son is a freshman at Northwestern University and a return to Chicago could be a sort of homecoming.
↵↵↵"It's definitely flattering," he said, "especially a team like the White Sox, a team I played for and that treated me really well when I was there. Right now, I'm a Ray and my focus is here. But I have fond memories of Chicago - both sides of the city. It would be an unbelievable opportunity. It would be a blessing for me and my family."
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Full Story: "Martinez Comes Highly Recommended" - Chicago Tribune