ORLANDO, Fla. — Manager Will Venable knew the arduous job he was heading into last season.
He was taking over for a team that finished the previous year with the most losses in the modern era and still didn’t support much talent at the major-league level. So a lot of last offseason was about Venable learning about his players, his new organization, and himself.
Fast forward a year, and with a season managing the White Sox under his belt, Venable has more clarity on how he wants to operate his team.
“It’s like endless, every single day, whether that was with pregame stuff, messaging, talking to [the media], in-game stuff,” he said Monday at the winter meetings of what he learned as a manager.
Venable spent last offseason interviewing for jobs, but now this season was about him interviewing candidates to be his new pitching and hitting coach (Zach Bove and Derek Shomon).
Unlike his predecessor, Venable is clear and concise in his communication. He’s precise in his messaging, which leaves little room for interpretation for his players. That straightforward approach is also why Venable is respected in the clubhouse.
On Monday, Venable was honest about how his team was “obviously not happy” with its record. The road to improvement starts in Orlando as general manager Chris Getz has conversations with agents, executives, and players about adding to the roster.
‘We need guys to take advantage of the opportunity’
Sox starters threw the fewest innings in the majors last season. The group’s inefficiency forced Venable to lean on the bullpen, which wore down the unit to end the season. Reliever Mike Vasil threw the fifth-most innings on the team last season, a sign of the team’s lack of quality starting pitching.
The Sox added to that group already with the signing of Anthony Kay, who will likely slot in the middle of the rotation behind Davis Martin and Shane Smith, but those last two spots are up for grabs. The organization hopes that Sean Burke — who sported a 4.22 ERA and struggled to put away batters — and Jonathan Cannon (5.82) can rebound from their struggles.
“I feel like we have a number of guys who could fill that starting role,” Venable said. “But we need guys to take steps forward. We need guys to take advantage of the opportunity and continue to progress and grab some of those spots.”
Outfield scarcity
With Andrew Benintendi’s days manning left field regularly nearing an end and Luis Robert Jr. perpetually on the injured list, combined with an opening in right field, the Sox have more questions than answers as their farm system depth after Braden Montgomery is scarce.
The organization signed former first-rounder Derek Hill, a plus outfielder who has experience at all three spots, and traded for Everson Pereira from the Rays. Hill and Pereira are more dart throws than known quantities.
“We’re going to continue to find ways to add,” Getz said. “Corner outfield is an area that we feel like is an area that really can boost our overall production. I think primarily it’s really [about] finding a bat that can help things, and if that’s in the outfield that’s the most obvious place to look to add that.”