A New Era for the White Sox: Reinsdorf to Sell Team

Maybe…in just under ten years…what a joke! If you follow Chuck Garfien on X (the White Sox anchor, reporter, and podcaster for Chicago Sports Network), you saw his post about Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, potentially selling the team. Fans are excited! This is what we’ve been waiting for. The day the Reinsdorfs leave Chicago sports alone will be one of the best days in Chicago sports history! However, we shouldn’t get our hopes up. 

Chuck Garfien shared a snippet of an article that came out detailing the sale. “The Chicago White Sox today announced that Jerry Reinsdorf and Justin Ishbia have reached a long-term investment agreement that establishes a framework for Ishbia to obtain a future controlling interest in the White Sox.” That sounds great, but unfortunately, we have to keep reading. It can never just stop there. The piece goes on to state that Ishbia will be making capital infusions into the organization and is a “limited partner in 2025 and 2026”. His investments will pay down existing debt and support organization operations. 

Here comes the annoying part: “The agreement provides that, from 2029-2033, Reinsdorf will have the option to sell the controlling interest to Ishbia….After the 2034 season, Ishbia will have the option to acquire the controlling interest.” So, as you can see, the word “option” is in there. Meaning Jerry doesn’t have to sell if he doesn’t feel like it. Further down, it also states, “There is no assurance that any such future transaction will occur, and in no event will such a transaction take place before 2029.”

So what was the point of announcing this? The likelihood of the Reinsdorfs selling the team is not high. Why give the fans hope if you probably have almost no intention of selling? I’ll never understand this guy. If he’s going to sell the White Sox, he should sell the Bulls, too, because he’s horrible at owning both. He and his family have gotten lucky over the years with Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and the 2005 World Series White Sox team. Other than that, they haven’t done squat. They rely on nostalgia to keep bringing fans in. This family has no clue how to put together a winning team in either sport. 

It’s too early to get worked up over this, but it’s so frustrating as a fan. This man owns two of my favorite teams, and he has ruined them. They’re a joke around their leagues. It’s disappointing. I just wish he would sell them both. It won’t happen, but I can dream, can’t I?

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Peter