The Chicago White Sox are continuing their front-office overhaul, and on Friday, they made another notable addition: Carlos Rodriguez, formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays, is joining the club as an assistant general manager.
For a franchise that's long leaned on internal promotions and familiar faces, this move signals something different - and potentially transformative. Rodriguez becomes the third assistant GM under Chris Getz, joining Josh Barfield (from Arizona) and Jin Wong (from Kansas City), giving the White Sox a trio of decision-makers with diverse organizational backgrounds. It’s a marked shift for a team that, for over a decade, was steered by Rick Hahn and Kenny Williams - a duo that oversaw a run of inconsistent results despite high expectations.
Getz himself is a product of the White Sox pipeline, but his recent moves show a clear desire to bring in outside perspectives, especially from organizations known for innovation. And few clubs have done more with less than the Rays. If you're trying to modernize your baseball ops and build a sustainable player development pipeline, tapping into Tampa Bay’s brain trust is a smart place to start.
Rodriguez brings 15 years of experience from Tampa Bay, where he wore a lot of hats - and wore them well. He started as a pro and international scout in 2010 after a brief stint with the Blue Jays, where he helped sign Yan Gomes, who would go on to become the first Brazilian-born player in MLB history. By 2012, Rodriguez was the Rays' director of Latin American scouting, helping to modernize their international evaluation process and expand the club’s reach in key markets.
That international experience could be especially valuable in Chicago. The White Sox have a long-standing pipeline to Cuba, but Rodriguez’s arrival could help broaden that scope across Latin America. His deep roots in international scouting and player development align with the club’s renewed focus on building from within - but doing it smarter.
Rodriguez didn’t just scout talent; he helped shape it. He later took on oversight of player development and performance science, spearheading initiatives in individualized training, sports nutrition, and wellness.
Under his guidance, Tampa Bay’s minor league system didn’t just develop players - it dominated. The Rays’ affiliates posted the best winning percentage in the minors in both 2021 and 2022, including a staggering +634 run differential in 2022.
That’s not just development - that’s system-wide excellence.
In 2019, Rodriguez was promoted to vice president of player development and international scouting, and by 2022, he’d climbed to VP of baseball operations and assistant GM. He was involved in everything from major league operations to long-term strategic planning.
When he stepped away from the Rays in October, Tampa Bay president of baseball ops Erik Neander called him “an invaluable presence” who left a “lasting impact across our operations.” That’s high praise from one of the sharpest front offices in the game.
Now, Rodriguez brings that pedigree to the South Side, where Getz is clearly trying to replicate some of the Rays' formula. Over the past year, the White Sox have made several moves involving Tampa Bay talent. They traded for outfielder Tristan Peters and infielder Curtis Mead, acquired pitchers Duncan Davitt and Benjamin Peoples in the Adrian Houser deal, selected Alexander Alberto in the Rule 5 draft, and grabbed arms Mike Vasil and Brandon Eisert off waivers - all from the Rays’ system.
So while this hire won’t dominate headlines like a blockbuster trade or a big-money free agent, it’s the kind of move that can reshape an organization’s trajectory. Rodriguez brings a blend of scouting acumen, developmental expertise, and international reach - all areas the White Sox have been trying to strengthen. If Getz’s vision is to modernize and build a more sustainable contender, adding someone like Rodriguez is a strong step in the right direction.