The Chicago White Sox got a jump start on their offseason as they have fired executive vice president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn, effective immediately, according to an official team announcement on Tuesday.
Currently, the White Sox have a 49-77 record and are 16 games back from the first-place Minnesota Twins following their 6-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.
“Ultimately, the well-worn cliche that professional sports is results-oriented is correct,” White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in an official statement. “While we have enjoyed successes as an organization and were optimistic heading into the competitive window of this rebuild, this year has proven to be very disappointing for us all on many levels.
“This has led me to the conclusion that the best decision for the organization moving forward is to make a change in our baseball department leadership.”
Williams has been with the organization since 1992, wearing many hats throughout his tenure with the team including serving as the general manager. Williams oversaw the team that won the 2005 World Series before being promoted to executive vice president in 2012, which was the same year that Hahn was promoted to general manager.
Williams thanked White Sox fans for going “out of their way throughout the years to offer support and encouragement” and thanked the team for the opportunity in a statement issued later on Tuesday.
“I thank Jerry Reinsdorf for the opportunity he gave me to head baseball operations and will forever be proud of the World Series Championship we all celebrated together,” Williams said. “At my inaugural presser, I spoke of winning multiple championships. That was my goal, our goal, and we failed. I am a bottom line guy, and the bottom line is we didn’t get it done. This is what happens as a result.”
Hahn issued his own statement: “I cannot thank enough the gifted coaches, scouts, analysts, sports performance professionals, and front office staff for their tireless work and dedication to the Club. Because of them, I firmly believe that many vital ingredients of a championship team are in that clubhouse and within the minor league system.”
“This is an incredibly difficult decision for me to make because they are both talented individuals with long-term relationships at the White Sox,” Reinsdorf added. “Ken is like a son to me, and I will always consider him a member of my family. I want to personally thank Ken and Rick for all they have done for the Chicago White Sox, winning the 2005 World Series and reaching the postseason multiple times during their tenures.
“I have nothing but the greatest respect for them as people and appreciate the commitment and passion for the White Sox they exhibited over the years.”
