White Sox Are Talking to Martin : Harrelson Says No Offer Made

With Tony LaRussa’s job as Chicago White Sox manager obviously in jeopardy, White Sox Vice President Ken Harrelson met with Billy Martin Tuesday after receiving permission from George Steinbrenner, the New York Yankee owner, to talk with Martin.

Harrelson said he has not made an offer to Martin but will meet with Martin’s agent, Judge Eddie Sapir, Thursday.

“If the club comes around, nothing’s going to happen,” Harrelson said of the White Sox, who are 7-17 following Tuesday night’s 10-6 loss to the Yankees. “But if the club doesn’t come around, obviously changes are going to have to be made.”

Of the meeting with Martin, he said, “You can’t find a manager overnight. You have to talk things out beforehand.”

Martin signed what he has described as a lifetime contract with the Yankees when he was hired to replace Yogi Berra as manager in April of 1985.

It was his fourth such assignment with the Yankees, but it ended with Lou Piniella’s appointment as manager last winter.

Martin has been doing brief pregame and postgame shows on Yankee telecasts, but he did not participate in Tuesday night’s, saying he had things to discuss with his agent and did not want to increase the pressure on LaRussa by appearing at Comiskey Park.

It is believed that Martin is also being considered as a possible successor to Seattle Manager Chuck Cottier and that both the Mariners and White Sox also have Dick Williams and Jim Fregosi on their lists of potential managers.