Is White Sox executive Kenny Williams on his way out?
As a player, scout, special assistant to chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, TV studio analyst, director of minor-league operations, general manager and now executive vice president, Kenny Williams has been with the Chicago White Sox a long, long time.
"I didn't grow up in Chicago, but I've been here now 30 years and it's my home," said the 51-year-old Williams. "My wife is here, our family is here. We are very comfortable and we've got a fan base that I don't step foot outside my door where people don't express appreciative things."
Still best known for being the GM of the 2005 World Series champion Sox, Williams considered taking over as the Blue Jays' president last winter but Reinsdorf denied Toronto's interview request, saying the timing was not right.
Williams is still being linked to Toronto, and the Seattle Mariners are now rumored to be in the mix.
Until an interview is formally requested - and until Reinsdorf gives his OK - Williams is not going to speculate on his future.
"There really isn't anything to talk about in any way, shape or form unless Jerry brings something to my attention," Williams said. "So it makes it easy. There is much ado about nothing is the best way to put it."
Williams gave up his general manager job following the 2012 season, with Rick Hahn taking over.
He still has a big say in trades, free-agent signings and the draft, but Williams is no longer involved in day-to-day activities. Is he missing the action?
"I won't deny there are times throughout the year where you sort of feel that way, but there are other advantages to the role I play now," Williams said. "I'm focused on the job at hand and if Jerry ever comes to me, and he hasn't, and said someone has asked for permission for X, Y or Z job then I deal with that when it comes. Until that point it's a moot conversation."
Williams did express a strong interest in running an organization like the Blue Jays when the interview request was denied by Reinsdorf in November, and that feeling might very well return.
The again, there is the comfort factor that comes with his long White Sox run.
"After the experience of last year, I made it up in my mind that No. 1, it's flattering when these possibilities come up and your name is in the mix," Williams said. "The second thing is the outpour of people around here in the front office and fans on the street saying, 'Hey, we appreciated what you've done and we always get the sense the White Sox are trying to win a championship and going for it.'
"The expressions kept coming in and in and I never knew, I never felt that and it's kind of nice. It's nice that people paid attention to your work over the years, that's all."
The White Sox are nearing the end of their third straight subpar season, and Williams is directly linked to the failure.
If the Blue Jays, Mariners or other major-league teams with openings at the top are looking for an executive with a better recent track record, Williams sounds like he'd be happy to stay put with the Sox.
"I think one of the interesting things to me has always been that if your name is linked to something, you are automatically pack up your office and leave," Williams said. "I work for a prince of a guy and none of that is ever going to be lost. Just because you are flattered with your name being mentioned with possibilities, it doesn't mean you are going to high-tail it out the door."