Rick Hahn: Sox poor season complicates Viciedo callup

WSCR:

… “Look, he’s done absolutely marvelously,” Hahn said. “In fact, he’s even done better in the last three or four weeks since this sort of buzz for people wanting him up here began. He’s actually shown a little more plate discipline in the past few weeks. He’s gotten even better as a defender and an outfielder.“

When he gets here we do think he’s going to be an impact guy. That being said, he is 22 years old. If he had grown up in the states, he’d be a year out of the draft, in all probability. To expect that a 22-year-old kid would come up here and, you know, essentially save the season or turn around the offense single handily, is an awful lot to put on him.”

Audio at the link.

Introducing Dr. Fishbein [UPDATE]

Chicago White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn was on WSCR’s ‘Danny Mac Show’:

“In fact this last offseason we hired a fellow by the name of Dr. Jeff Fishbein, who’s a sports psychologist, he works exclusively with the White Sox now. He’s worked previously, for the last 10 years, with the [Florida] Marlins before that. He’s been around, going back all the way to SoxFest, he spent a few weeks down in Arizona with us in Spring Training, and he’s just available as a resource.

“Ozzie, over the years, has joked on numerous occasions that ‘I don’t need a pitching coach or a hitting coach, I need a team of shrinks.’ And this year he actually has someone on staff right now, who’s available as a resource, to help with some of the performance and on-field issues, which are very real. And I do think that probably four or five years ago, there was finally a little bit of a breakthrough in the game, which obviously is very slow to change.

“But when a guy like Zack Greinke can come out and say ‘I have these very real psychological issues that prevent me from performing and I need help,’ And then he’s able to rebound and have a Cy Young caliber season after he gets that help. All of a sudden I think it became a little more acceptable for guys to say ‘You know what, I need some help as well.’ And we’re, as an organization, now providing them that resource.”

Hopefully he can keep Q’s head straight! BTW, audio at the link.

UPDATE: Quentin’s psychiatrist last winter was Dr. Sherlin.

SoxFest Day 2 tweets

Ballantini: Rick Hahn basically says White Sox will never offer a Cliff Lee-type contract to a P: “We can allocate resources in better ways”

Ballantini: Hahn on sabermetrics: It’s a factor in our decisionmaking but we dont mind othr people not thinking so. They dont need to see behind curtain

Cowley: KW asked about good and bad trades – said he thought his best was going to be Bartolo in 2003.

Gonzales: Fan asks if frank t considered as hitting coach. Oz: NO! Says coaches don’t make enough $ and frank can’t take heat — Ballantini: Says coaches don’t get paid enough, and you need to be a very bad hitter to be a hitting coach. Frank’s hitting came too naturally.

The 2012 payroll is getting up there

The payroll commitments for 2012 are already $80.5 million. Arbitration costs, for 2012, are estimated by B-R to be $27.3 million. And if you fill up the rest of the roster with $500,000 players you get a total, commitments + arbitration + fillers, of $127.3 million for 2012.

I think those figures don’t include the salary for Will Ohman, whose contract was finalized today. If we add $2 million for Ohman ($2.5 million salary for 2012 minus a $500,000 filler), we get $129.3 million. Let’s round it to $130 million. Whoa Nellie! Yes, the $130 million figure is not very accurate but it provides a helpful estimation.

Now, I wonder how hard the White Sox will try to extend John Danks’ contract (Danks becomes a free-agent after the 2012 season). I guess not very hard unless a trade or two take place before or after Danks signs.

Levine: Adam Dunn wants to play Left Field [UPDATE]

Levine @ ESPN chat:

Q: Bruce, the Sox need a left handed bat to help balance out the line-up. With [Adam] Dunn being the biggest bat out there, do you see them signing him or looking elsewhere for a bat? If so, who do you see being a fit for the Sox?

A: The White Sox want Dunn and have been trying to make that happen. However Dunn is telling people close to him that he’d like to play left field. The White Sox would rather have him be a DH/1B and maybe a part-time outfielder. But Dunn is below average at almost every position on the field. The Sox have some interest in Hideki Matsui, who at 35 still has some pop. That would also be a short-term deal.

and

Q: Gavin Floyd, John Danks, Edwin Jackson…which is more likely to be traded?

A: Most likely Jackson with one year and $8 million left. I just don’t see them trading starting pitching unless they get it back. That’s the strength of their team.

and

Q: Will Rick Hahn ever take over for Kenny or is he going to end up elsewhere?

A: Dear Mrs. Hahn, Rick will be a GM somewhere in the next couple of years and possibly with the White Sox if Reinsdorf decides to make Kenny the president of the team.

UPDATE: Dunn is looking for a 4 year, $60 million contract.

Rick Hahn is no longer a candidate of the NY Mets GM job

MLBTR:

The Mets announced that they’re bringing GM candidates Josh Byrnes and Sandy Alderson back for a final round of interviews, according to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com (on Twitter). Byrnes, the D’Backs GM from 2005 to 2010, and Alderson, the A’s GM from 1983 to 1997, both have experience running big league teams. …

UPDATE: Waldstein @ NYT:

Not surprisingly, none of the assistant general managers who were interviewed, including Rick Hahn of the White Sox, Logan White of the Dodgers and Dana Brown of the Blue Jays, were invited back. The Mets are fond of [Mets Assistant GM John] Ricco and were not prepared to insult him by hiring an assistant from another team without considering him for the job. Ricco could eventually be in line to take over from the next G.M.

Will Rick Hahn’s assistant GM status be a plus or a minus?

Waldstein @ NYT:

When the Mets interview Rick Hahn on Tuesday for their general manager opening, he will have one distinct advantage over other candidates. Hahn, the assistant general manager of the Chicago White Sox, attended the University of Michigan, the beloved alma mater of Fred Wilpon, the Mets’ principal owner. That should prove beneficial.

But there is one drawback that could thwart his candidacy from the outset: Hahn’s role as an assistant.

Padilla @ ESPN:

If you squint at it and adjust our eyes just so, White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn could be the Mets’ hand-picked choice to be their new general manager.

… There are a couple of things Hahn has going for him that set him apart from the other candidates. No. 1, Hahn is a Michigan graduate just like Mets principal owner Fred Wilpon. No. 2 — and this one is more revealing — is that one of the stated interests in a new Mets GM is an assistant that is viewed as an up-and-comer.

Time for Phil Rogers’ words of wisdom!

NY Mets to interview White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn next week

Levine:

Chicago White Sox vice president/assistant general manager Rick Hahn will interview for the New York Mets general manager position next week, according to a Major League Baseball source.

… Hahn’s expertise blends a firm grip of sabermetrics and physical scouting of players. He is a Michigan graduate and has a Harvard law degree and graduated from Northwestern’s Kellogg graduate school of management…. His expertise in negotiating contracts and learning the scouting end of the game was essential in the White Sox promoting him to a vice president post in 2007.

UPDATE: No interview for Joey yet:

The outlook, however, doesn’t look at promising for Sox bench coach Joey Cora, who aspires to be a manager. A source said Cora hasn’t been contacted yet for the opening in Seattle.

Rick Hahn interested in NY Mets GM job?

Rogers @ CT:

Rick Hahn’s name continues to be mentioned for the GM opening with the New York Mets, and the White Sox assistant isn’t commenting about his interest. The feeling is that this job piques his interest more than ones he has been linked to in the past, including the search that left John Mozeliak promoted into the GM’s office in St. Louis, but it’s not clear how high he is on the Mets’ short list. The Mets aren’t known to have asked the White Sox for permission to talk to Hahn. It seems unlikely that Jerry Reinsdorf and Ken Williams would stand in Hahn’s way if he had a chance to advance, although the Sox definitely would miss him if he left. He’s a real glue guy for the organization, with people skills to match his business savvy. He also has become a pretty good evaluator of players, although his opinion always seems shaped by the coaches and scouts he works with.

NY Mets to interview White Sox Assistant GM Rick Hahn?

Cerrone @ MetsBlog:

According to people close to the team, as well as around baseball, expect the Mets to speak with Terry Ryan and Rick Hahn, among other potential candidates, about replacing Omar Minaya as GM.

more from Cerrone:

I’ve heard from people close to the Mets that he is seen as being very business savvy, a successful negotiator, and he’s got a thick skin from experience working for a ‘dramatic franchise.’

NY Mets interested in White Sox Assistant GM Rick Hahn [UPDATE]

Heyman @ SI:

Mets people have high regard for assistant GM John Ricco and consider him a future GM, but the team apparently will instead look to someone with more experience for their top front office position. They are is said to be ready to consider ex-Padres GM Kevin Towers, ex-Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes and White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn, among others, to replace Minaya for that role. Byrnes and Hahn, assuming they are interested, are both extremely highly regarded. Byrnes helped bring the D-backs to the NLCS championship series in 2007 while Hahn was part of the 2005 World Series championship team with the White Sox.

UPDATE: October 2: Rogers:

White Sox assistant general manager Rick Hahn is on the GM short list for the Mets’ expected opening.

WhiteSox.com reminds us team doesn’t have any pitching prospects

Merkin:

Monday’s latest entry came from ESPN.com, with a brief mention of rumblings involving a three-way deal involving the Nationals, White Sox and D-backs, with Edwin Jackson going to the Nationals, pitching prospects going to the D-backs and the White Sox getting their coveted left-handed run producer in Adam Dunn.

One problem in this particular equation is that the White Sox don’t have any true pitching prospects to deal aside from Daniel Hudson. If the White Sox decide to trade Hudson, the move also leaves them thin in the starting rotation without a corresponding move.

And this team’s ultimate success is predicated on its front five and overall pitching depth. Williams seemed to indicate, without mentioning names specifically, how starting second baseman Gordon Beckham and/or starting right fielder Carlos Quentin won’t be going anywhere.

Of course, time exists for Williams to change his mind. …

Chris Sale, Tyler Flowers and Brent Morel put on their acting faces [UPDATE]

SPMag:

Next week the production of the MLB Network reality series The Club will take place at Knights Stadium.  Camera crews will be in town for the Charlotte Knights home stand as they follow the career of several Knights players including 2010 first round pick pitcher Chris Sale, catcher Tyler Flowers and infielder Brent Morel.  White Sox Assistant General Manager Rick Hahn is expected to be at Knights Stadium next week as well.

… Award-winning actor, Chicago native and die-hard Chicago White Sox fan Michael Clarke Duncan will provide narration for The Clubhitting coach Greg Walker.

UPDATE: Here’s the latest trailer:

http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9917167&topic_id=9991168&c_id=cws (2:06)

And two older trailers:

Video: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=9263879&topic_id=7417714&c_id=cws (1:18)

Video: http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=7739931&topic_id=7417714&c_id=cws (5:57)

Kenny Williams cools his interest in Adam Dunn

Seems Rizzo wants too much for Kenny:

According to a source Monday, general manager Ken Williams has cooled on the pursuit of the Washington Nationals slugger for the time being, partially because of the initial asking price.

Williams seems willing to sit back and watch what the rest of the market does for Dunn, as well as explore other options.

The Sun-Times first reported of the Sox’ interest in the left-handed slugger last week, as multiple sources told the paper that if Williams was to act, he would have to act quickly. Obviously, he didn’t act quick enough. The interest in Dunn went from two teams to ”a handful” almost overnight, and the Nationals are ”asking for the moon” from each team. …

Mark Buehrle earns full no trading rights (10-and-5)

Gonzales:

Mark Buehrle told general manager Ken Williams on Monday that he had 9 1/2 hours to get rid of him or he’d be stuck with him.

Williams laughed and told Buehrle he didn’t even think about Monday night’s deadline before Buehrle’s full no-trade rights kicked in as a player with 10 years of major league service, all with the White Sox. …

Jerry kept his word:

“I think when the whole contract thing was going down, I wanted a no-trade clause because I wanted to know I’d be here the whole time,” Buehrle said of the four-year extension he signed with the White Sox on July 8, 2007. “I give props to [Sox owner] Jerry [Reinsdorf] and [general manager] Kenny [Williams] , they kept their word. Jerry called me into the office after I signed and told me, ‘We’re not signing you to trade you. You’ve got my word that we’re not going to trade you.’ And he held up to it.”