On Monday, MLB insider Jon Heyman reported that the White Sox received permission to interview Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza.
Mendoza has 14 years of coaching experience in the Yankees organization. The Bronx Bombers have reached the postseason all three years he has been a bench coach. By all accounts, the 42-year-old possesses a great work ethic, knowledge of the game, and speaks fluent Spanish. Mendoza received interviews before the 2021 season with the Red Sox and Tigers. He was considered a finalist for both positions. He ultimately was got beat out by A.J Hinch and Alex Cora.
Despite the positive attributes, Heyman’s report was the first time Mendoza’s name popped up on many White Sox fans’ radars regarding the manager position. However, according to Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, the White Sox were in contact with Mendoza more than a week before Heyman’s report.
Levine tweeted that the White Sox interviewed Mendoza twelve days ago, but he has yet to receive a second interview. He also added that Ozzie Guillen and Mendoza are old winter ball pals. The two are both from Venezuela. This is an interesting nugget Levine slipped in and opens the door for a theory as to why the fact was included.
According to sources Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza interviewed with the White Sox 12 days ago.Sox candidate Ozzie Guillen and Mendoza are old winter ball pals.@JonHeyman first to report the Wh Sox got permission to talk with Mendoza.Mendoza has not had a second interview.
— Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) November 1, 2022
Guillen is one of the names circulating around the managerial opening. Despite being a former World Series champion, Guillen seemed like an odd choice. He has been removed from the dugout longer than Tony La Russa had been when he was brought out of retirement. Guillen also had a tumultuous ending to his tenure on the South Side.
Jerry Reinsdorf let his feeling be known during an interview with Bob Nightengale in 2017.
“I’ve recommended Ozzie for several managerial positions that opened up, but his experience in Miami was costly,” Reinsdorf said. “I hope he ends up somewhere. He can help somebody. He just can’t come back here. He burned some bridges when he left here.”
The buck stops with Jerry. If he doesn’t want Guillen to return, then he isn’t coming back.
So when NBC Sports Chicago reported that Guillen received an interview, it left many scratching their heads. It is possible that Guillen’s interview was more of a strategic one used to gauge his thoughts. Guillen is a respected analyst on NBC Sports Chicago’s White Sox Post Game show, a network owned by Reinsdorf. Why not turn to him for advice?
Perhaps Guillen suggested Mendoza as a candidate. Or maybe Levine just wanted to throw a fun fact into his tweet. Whatever the answer may be, Mendoza is one of the few serious candidates remaining for the job.
