Bold truth: rebuilding a team around a patient, long-term plan isn’t quick or glamorous, but it’s exactly what Will Venable signed up for with the White Sox. Since taking the helm before the 2024 season, Venable has faced a daunting mission—guiding a club that set a major league record with 121 losses into a more competitive era. Even improving to a 60-102 record last year isn’t enough on its own, but Venable stays focused on the big picture.
“Honestly, losing isn’t fun,” Venable told the Chicago Sun-Times at Camelback Ranch during spring training. “But it didn’t wear me down personally. I volunteered for every part of this process to ensure these players show up ready to compete each day, regardless of the previous day’s results.” He adds that staying energized, optimistic, and engaged is essential, and he’s kept that mindset every day.
As of now, the White Sox sit roughly three weeks from Opening Day on March 26 in Milwaukee against the Brewers, a team that finished with baseball’s best record last season and operates with a relatively modest payroll by comparison. The Sox, with a luxury tax payroll of about $101.5 million (28th in the majors), face an uphill climb. Only Cleveland and Miami have lower tax-cap payrolls, while Cleveland has repeatedly proven it can contend. In both the American and National Leagues Central, other teams routinely find production and wins with tighter budgets.
Venable’s aim is clear: improve on last year’s results. He notes internal confidence in several additions to the talent pool and says expectations are higher than before. The next step is translating that confidence into consistent on-field performance.
Right now, the Sox haven’t pinned down a bullpen or a definitive starting rotation. Nine pitchers are in the conversation for starting spots, and while the Opening Day starter isn’t decided yet, Venable promises a choice will be made by the end of spring training on March 23. “It’s a collaborative process,” he emphasizes.
From Venable’s perspective, a key takeaway from his first stint as manager is the constant, rigorous work required to improve. He describes a steep learning curve in how to deploy players, communicate with them, and structure practices in more effective ways. He credits strong support from the baseball operations department, with whom he has built a solid, collaborative relationship.
Venable also draws on a deep well of mentors. A nine-year major league outfielder, he rose through the system in the Padres organization beginning in 2008, coinciding with Bruce Bochy’s exit and Bud Black’s ascent. His coaching career includes stints with Joe Maddon in Chicago, Alex Cora in Boston, and a return to Texas to work with Bochy as associate manager during the World Series run that beat Arizona in 2023. He later joined the White Sox.
An Ivy League standout at Princeton in both baseball and basketball, Venable hails from baseball royalty as the son of former major leaguer Max Venable. Yet he’s quick to acknowledge outside influences that shaped his approach: Boch’s closing chapters with the Padres, Buddy Bell’s early spring, Alex Cora’s Boston culture, and Dave Roberts’ guidance when he coached under Buddy Bell—all of these experiences helped form his approach to winning.
But Venable’s path has been primarily about triumphs; this current challenge is uniquely demanding. The White Sox’ broadcast team disruption—following Ed Farmer’s departure and other changes—adds another layer to the evolving organizational culture, underscoring the broader shifts the team is navigating.
Within the broader conversation around the division, some observers question whether Chicago can realistically win the American League Central this year, especially given stiff competition from Detroit and Cleveland. Others see a window of opportunity and project a near-future Central crown if the roster and development pay off.
Meanwhile, notable resumés in spring training headlines include players adjusting to new roles and returning from injuries. Benintendi is expected back soon after soreness, and other storylines—like Hicks’s transition back to bullpen duties and junior players seeking breakout performances—keep the daily narrative lively.
Bottom line: Venable is building an organization that believes in gradual, measurable improvement, even when the path is uphill. The question that remains is whether the pieces will come together quickly enough to flip the Central script this season, or if the truth lies in a longer arc toward sustainable, long-term competitiveness. What do you think—can this White Sox core surprise the division this year, or is patience the wiser play for 2026?
