trib reports:

The long-awaited transition of the White Sox's front office will be announced Friday when Ken Williams is promoted to overseeing the baseball operations department, with assistant general manager Rick Hahn elevated to Williams' GM duties.

A major league source confirmed the moves shortly after the team announced a news conference was scheduled for Friday. The elevation of Williams and promotion of Hahn had been anticipated as early as 2008 — after the Sox's last American League Central title.


The transitions will complete a 13-year run as GM for Williams, 48, who constructed the Sox's 2005 World Series title team — their lone world title since 1917. As head of baseball operations, he will retain his title as a senior vice president.

At the end of the 2012 season, Williams spoke of the team's challenge to attract more fans to U.S. Cellular Field, and he's expected to provide input outside of the baseball department.

The promotion of Hahn, 41, completes five years of his candidacies as a GM in baseball circles. He either has interviewed, turned down interviews or been denied the chance to interview for GM positions with the Pirates Cardinals, Mariners, Mets and Angels.

Hahn, a New Trier High School graduate, is highly respected throughout the organization and throughout Major League Baseball because of his communication and negotiating skills. Hahn has negotiated the Sox's largest contracts since joining the organization shortly after Williams took over as GM in October 2000, and the Sox haven't had an arbitration hearing since 2001.

Hahn immediately will be faced with handling several tough free agent decisions involving pitcher Jake Peavy, third baseman Kevin Youkilis and catcher A.J. Pierzynski.

Although Hahn has a strong background as a negotiator, Williams has sent him on scouting missions for the past few years. In addition, Hahn is well-respected by the Sox's player development department, including the professional and amateur scouts.

It's uncertain whether Hahn will relinquish the bulk of his contract duties, although he has delegated some of the smaller negotiations in recent years to Dan Fabian, the Sox's senior director of baseball operations, and Daniel Zien, Fabian's assistant.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Hahn immediately will be faced with handling several tough free agent decisions involving pitcher Jake Peavy, third baseman Kevin Youkilis and catcher A.J. Pierzynski.





Not tough decisions at all imo...you resign none of the three

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Agreed. Really not that hard.

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"All crowds boycotting football games shouldn't care who sings or takes a knee because they aren't watching." - Nas

Let Youk walk.

Make AJ and Peavy an offer, but they are likely to get more $ and more years elsewhere. At least make an offer to see if they stick around though, especially AJ. If they leave then shake their hand and wish them well.

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I can't believe Kenny has handed over the GM duties before orchestrating a trade for Tori Hunter.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Moves up in title, steps aside in reality.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Reminds me of Uncle Jerry's other team. It wasn't that long ago that Reinsdorf's other team the Bulls did the same thing with John Paxson being promoted to Executive Vice President & Gar Forman as General Manager.

The perception is that Paxson still calls the shots day-to-day with Forman as the Bulls' mouthpiece. Will that continue with Ken Williams moving up to Team President and Rick Hahn as New General Manager with the White Sox?

I would say it is more moves up in title, nothing changes in reality.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

bigfan's reality is a lot different than everybody else's.

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See you in a week

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Truth be told, Rick Hahn is widely considered to be one of MLB's rising front office executives. I think he'll do very well in his new position with the White Sox.

Peavy is the most replaceable of the bunch. If they go into the season with Flowers & Morel as starters then the stands will resemble a WNBA game by June.

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“How do you get to be president and you’re stupid?” Donald J Trump - 4/10/25
When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus. - Turkish Proverb

Yeah I wasnt talking about Kenny moving up or out this year at the start of the season.

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

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This answers my question I came here to get an answer for. I heard someone on the radio calling him "White Sox GM Rick Hahn" and wondered "When did that happen?"

I've heard from more than one person that he was high on the Cubs list last year if they hadn't hired Hoyer.