Tim Anderson

Tony La Russa will return to manage the Chicago White Sox for a second season in 2022, a source told ESPN Thursday.While the 77-year-old inked a multi-year contract with the White Sox last winter, his status as their bench boss was up in the air following the team's elimination from the postseason at the hands of the Houston Astros. He said Tuesday that the decision should be left up to the players.Since then, star players Jose Abreu and Tim Anderson have endorsed La Russa and said they want him to return.More to come.Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After the White Sox' disappointingly quick playoff exit, team leader Tim Anderson said he believes the South Siders are close to reaching their World Series goal.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu believes Tony La Russa will return to manage the team next season."I didn't have any conversation with him about it, but I'm pretty sure he's going to come back," Abreu said, according to NBC Sports Chicago's Maddie Lee. "He won't leave us alone. He's going to be with us."Abreu's comments come one day after the Houston Astros eliminated Chicago in the American League Division Series. Following the loss, La Russa said he was unsure if he'd return to manage the White Sox in 2022 and would like to leave the decision up to the players."I'm not gonna talk about myself," he said. "The process I've used once I had a little security - probably about the fifth or sixth year - is 'do they want you back?' I just leave if they don't want you back. They say yes, then you ask the players. They should choose who they want to manage. If you get both of those, then you check yourself."Chicago brought La Russa in to manage this campaign after he initially spent eight years with the White Sox as their skipper from 1979-1986. Franchise owner Jerry Reinsdorf made the decision to rehire La Russa, calling the manager's previous firing his biggest regret.The 77-year-old's hiring was criticized after the discovery that he had been charged with driving under the influence one day before Chicago announced he would become its manager.There were also concerns about how he would gel with brash young stars like Tim Anderson, and an additional midseason incident involving Yermin Mercedes did not sit well with players on the White Sox and other clubs.Despite all of this, Abreu stands by La Russa, who was livid with umpires during Wednesday's game after accusing the Astros of hitting his first baseman on purpose."It was a natural reaction," Abreu said. "That s the kind of reaction that I would have if something happened to one of my children. Tony was trying to protect me, and he's always trying to protect us."Copyright © 2021 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ben Verander breaks down his top five "Must See" hitters in October, including Carlos Correa, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Tim Anderson and Xander Bogaerts.

Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson is one of the top 10 hitters in the 2021 MLB playoffs.