Just because Justin Ishbia wants to buy the White Sox doesn’t mean Jerry Reinsdorf is selling
No indication of a sale in the immediate future
It’s wonderful that deep-pocketed Justin Ishbia reportedly is interested in gaining a bigger stake in the White Sox, with the idea of buying the team, but there’s no indication that owner Jerry Reinsdorf plans to release his icy grip on the franchise any time soon. Immediacy is what matters here. It’s the only thing that should matter to the people doing the heavy lifting – suffering.
Sox fans are eager for a change
That would be Sox fans. I don’t blame them a bit for getting their hopes up. The Athletic reported that Ishbia, a financier worth $5.1 billion, wants to increase his minority stake in the Sox now that he’s given up his pursuit of buying the Twins. There’s a large segment of the fan base that would want anybody besides Reinsdorf, including a disinterred Stalin, owning the team. But the idea of someone as wealthy as Ishbia stepping in, well, it was enough to make Sox fans swoon on social media the past few days. To be rid of Reinsdorf, who cut the Sox’ payroll after losing a modern-era record 121 games in 2024, and gain a multibillionaire who has a home in Winnetka? Exchange Evergreen Park for Winnetka, and that’s a dream your standard Sox fan has about once a week.
No sale on the horizon
But just because there’s an A (someone interested in buying the Sox) doesn’t mean there’s a B (a sale in the immediate future – or any future). “Similar to an opportunity in 2021, White Sox limited partners have received an offer from a third party to purchase their shares in the team, providing liquidity for the limited partners on their long-term investment in the club,” Sox vice president of communications Scott Reifert said. “This offer to limited partners has no impact on the leadership or operations of the Chicago White Sox and does not provide a path to control.”
Posturing or cold water?
Is that the Sox posturing for a better offer from Ishbia down the road or is it cold water being hurled at the idea of Reinsdorf letting go? I don’t know, but if I had to guess, given Reinsdorf’s proclivity for wanting to stick it to his many critics, I’d say that the dream is sopping wet.
A change is long overdue
Too bad, if true. It’s time for somebody else to own the Sox. It’s been time for a long time. Being fabulously wealthy like Ishbia and his brother, Mat, co-owners of the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury, doesn’t guarantee success as an owner of a Major League Baseball team. But being rid of a fossilized owner surely would inject excitement into a moribund franchise and a disillusioned fan base.
Reinsdorf unlikely to budge
Alas, desperately wanting it to be so doesn’t make it so. Nothing has made Reinsdorf budge. Not all the losing, with more on the way this season. Not all the empty seats at Rate Field, or whatever the ballpark is called now. Not all the fans screaming for a sale.
Conclusion
What does Reinsdorf want? It’s hard to comprehend. If this were about winning baseball games, he would have plowed more money into getting the Sox out of their death spiral. But he hasn’t. If this were about rescuing his reputation, he would have done something about it. If this were about making more money, he would have taken steps to improve the on-field product and bring fans back.
FAQs
* Is there a chance that Reinsdorf will sell the White Sox?
+ There is no indication that he plans to do so.
* What are the reasons for Reinsdorf’s reluctance to sell?
+ There may be tax implications for him and his heirs if the team is sold while he is alive. There are also spiteful motivations, as he has shown a tendency to dig in his heels in the face of criticism.
* Is there a chance that Ishbia’s interest in buying a bigger stake in the team could lead to a sale?
+ While Ishbia has expressed interest, there is no guarantee that this will lead to a sale. The Sox have stated that the offer from Ishbia has no impact on the leadership or operations of the team.
