Tony La Russa Retires: Don't Expect Reunion with Chicago White Sox Anytime Soon

When Tony La Russa announced his retirement on Monday, one of the first questions he was asked is if he would be interested in a front office or general manager job. He said that he planned on staying away from baseball forever, but with retirements "forever" doesn't usually mean anything. 

That is not stopping Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who bought them in 1981 when La Russa was still managing the team, from showing a strong interest in the four-time Manager of the Year. 

According to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune, Reinsdorf would be more than willing to find a special position if it meant getting La Russa back in the organization. 

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“We’ve talked off and on about what he might do in the future but we haven’t talked about anything specific. I’m sure that now that he’s available he’s going to get a lot of opportunities, chances to do a lot of things inside the game. I just want him to do what’s in his best interest, what’s best for him.’’

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While an offer from the White Sox will be tempting, it would be difficult to imagine La Russa jumping to another franchise so soon after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Yes, La Russa has a history with the White Sox, but he is not going to walk away from a cherry gig with a team that just won a World Series to get another, less stressful job with a poorly-run franchise. 

Expect La Russa to stay retired for at least the 2012 season, and then he will see what offers come his way and if they are worth his time. 

Rogers' article also points out that La Russa could take one of those "special advisor" positions, which is the most ambiguous job ever. It is a way to get a name in the franchise to appease the fans, but you don't really have to do anything besides show up to a few games and events every year. 

Regardless of what special title the White Sox come up with, don't count on La Russa accepting it in 2012. He dealt with a lot of health issues this season and seemed to be worn down for the first time in his managerial career.