Whereas most of the membership’s followers have been clamoring for Reinsdorf to promote the membership, it’s potential their want is being granted in monkey-paw trend, given who the client might be. Stewart is well-known within the baseball world for his taking part in profession and in addition his post-playing ventures as a coach, govt, agent and stint as common supervisor of the Diamondbacks. Lately, he has been involved with a group that has been attempting to get an MLB franchise in Nashville, Tennessee. Stewart parted methods with Music Metropolis Baseball/the Nashville Stars however advised Paul Skrbina of the Nashville Tennessean in Might that he nonetheless had designs on getting a group to Nashville sometime. Per Wednesday’s report from Ghiroli, he’s now a part of a bunch known as Smoke34, a reference to his nickname and jersey quantity from his taking part in days. Ghiroli additionally mentions that Stewart and accomplice Lonnie Murray try to carry a Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League group to Nashville.
Again in August 2023, Greg Hinz of Crain’s Chicago Business reported that the Sox had been exploring relocating inside Chicago however that transferring to Nashville was additionally into account.
“Ever because the article got here out, I’ve been studying about I’ve been threatening to maneuver to Nashville,” Reinsdorf mentioned in response, per Scott Merkin of MLB.com. “That article didn’t come from me. But when we’ve six years left, we’ve bought to resolve what’s the longer term going to be? We’ll get to it, however I by no means threatened to maneuver out. We haven’t even begun to have discussions with the Sports activities Authority, which we’ll need to do quickly.”
In December, a number of sources (together with Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times) reported that Reinsdorf met with Nashville mayor Freddie O’Connell.
There are nonetheless loads of unknowns with this story and the subsequent steps would require extra particulars to return out. The talks between Reinsdorf and Stewart might in early/exploratory phases or they might be additional alongside. It’s additionally potential that Stewart’s group is only one of a number of that Reinsdorf has spoken with or will ultimately converse with. Speculatively talking, it’s potential that Reinsdorf is utilizing the specter of relocation to assist get a brand new stadium inbuilt Chicago.
As covered
previously at MLBTR, the Sox have mentioned plans a couple of new stadium in Chicago’s South Loop on a parcel of land generally known as “The 78.” It’s not unusual for house owners of sports activities franchises to dangle the specter of relocation in an try to extract public cash for actual property investments. The Sox, who’ve a lease at Assured Price Subject by way of 2029, had been reportedly trying to get a billion {dollars} in public cash for his or her new stadium as of February.
Exploring a sale of the membership additionally doesn’t imply it should finally come to move. Lately, groups just like the Nationals and Angels introduced plans to discover the potential for promoting, solely to later pull again from these declarations. This example seems to be considerably totally different, in that some discussions have already taken place. Although as talked about, it’s unclear how intensive these talks have been.
That is the second report this month of a membership contemplating a sale. The Twins, divisional rival of the White Sox, are additionally on the block. The Pohlad household announced last week that they are going to discover the potential for a sale. Reinsdorf is the second-longest lively proprietor in Main League Baseball, trailing solely the Steinbrenner household, which have owned the Yankees since 1973.
