White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is “open to selling” the White Sox and is in discussions with a group led by former major league pitcher Dave Stewart to do just that, according to The Athletic.
Doing so would be an enormous story for many reasons, not the least of which is the 88-year-old Reinsdorf’s extreme unpopularity with Sox fans. The Sox are coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons and were 41-121 this year for a record number of losses in the modern era.
Reinsdorf led a group that bought the Sox in 1981 for $20 million. According to Forbes, the club is worth approximately $2 billion.
There were past threats from Reinsdorf to move the Sox from Chicago; as recently as last December, he met with the mayor of Nashville, Tenn. Reinsdorf has spent recent months angling for a new stadium in the South Loop, even though the Sox’ lease at Guaranteed Rate Field runs through 2029.
The Sox declined comment.
“We don’t comment on rumors and speculation,” spokesman Scott Reifert told the Sun-Times.
Reinsdorf, who also owns the Bulls, has indicated before that his family should sell the Sox — and keep the Bulls — after his death.