Former Detroit Tigers’ Manager Buddy Bell a key player in Chicago White Sox’s organisation – MLB News
For those who wonder what happened to former Detroit Tigers’ Manager Buddy Bell, he is working in the Chicago White Sox organisation. Bell has been a key figure in the White Sox development for the last few years.
However, this year he has been provided with an opportunity to move up the ladder and became the assistant General Manager to Rick Hahn. According to sources, Bell played a big part in helping the White Sox strike a deal with free agent Jeff Keppinger.
The White Sox offered him a three year $12 million contract this week in an effort to fill the third base vacancy with a polished and accomplished hitter. Bell was one of the major forces in Major League Baseball in his long playing career as he won the
Gold Glove Award six times.
White Sox’s GM Hahn commented on Bell and Venture signing Keppinger for third base, "have a pretty strong opinion about what it takes to play a quality third base."
Bell also made a significant contribution in White Sox’s decision to acquire infielder Angel Sanchez from the Los Angeles Angels based on the Rule 5 draft.
"Given his experience, personality, creativity and intellect, Buddy is a tremendous asset to me and our entire department on issues ranging from scouting amateur talent to acquisitions for Chicago," the new Sox general manager said about Bell on Friday in
an e-mail to the Free Press. "There really isn't a single element of our operations in which his involvement isn't solicited and valued."
The 29 year old Sanchez has sufficient big league experience and he is expected to be Chicago’s part time infielder in the next season. In 1996, Bell was recruited to manage the Tigers at a time when they were in a rebuilding phase. However, couple of years
later he was fired as he could not earn Tigers’ respect.
Now Bell is an extremely respectable figure in the White Sox and he will be looking to help his team claim the American League Central title against Detroit. If Keppinger beats the Tigers in the next season, Bell should be given a lot of credit for it.
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