Williams deflects job speculation

CHICAGO -- Ken Williams didn't really want to touch the topic of the potential for him to leave for another organization after the 2015 season prior to Monday night's series opener between the White Sox and Red Sox.

The White Sox executive vice president then proceeded to answer questions about his job situation and the current version of the team for the next 11 minutes.

Williams was the architect of the 2005 World Series champions as the team's general manager, but was moved up to his current slot after the 2012 campaign, with Rick Hahn taking over as general manager. Williams was linked to a potential general manager's opening in Seattle and the president and CEO position with the Blue Jays in a recent USA Today article, but Williams remains under contract with the White Sox and permission must be granted by White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for any position outside the team.

There's also the fact that just because Williams' name has been associated with specific jobs doesn't necessarily guarantee he's going anywhere.

"I didn't grow up in Chicago, but I've been here now 30 years and it's my home," Williams said. "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.

"And 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 hightail it out the door.

"It's useless to even have the discussion. I don't know how many times I have to say it," Williams added. "My focus is right here on the White Sox and hoping we can make a run here and make it interesting."

One point Williams always has preached to his players is having your head and your butt in the same location. If a player at Triple-A Charlotte believes he should in the Majors, as an example, he still needs to be focused on the work in Charlotte.

He joked that the one job he always wanted was being a Secret Service agent, but Williams knows that ship has sailed. As far as the more serious topic of getting more hands-on again in a different baseball role, Williams admits there are times throughout the year where he misses the action.

"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. There really isn't anything to talk about in any way, shape or form unless Jerry brings something to my attention. So it makes it easy. There is much ado about nothing is the best way to put it."