Will the offseason be extension season for White Sox, Munetaka Murakami and Will Venable?

First baseman Munetaka Murakami and manager Will Venable are two of the key figures in the White Sox’ surprisingly winning season.

Murakami injected life into an anonymous and sputtering franchise, hitting tape-measure home runs and giving the Sox a truly international star. Venable, in his second season as manager, has been credited with nurturing young players and creating an atmosphere conducive to success.

General manager Chris Getz would like both to stick around past next year.

After his free-agent market collapsed, Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract in December. In hindsight, the deal looks like a bargain for the Sox, even though Murakami hasn’t hit a home run since Aug. 18 and went 3 for 24 and struck out 12 times on the recent seven-game road trip.

Getz said Friday that the Sox and Murakami’s camp will “continue to have those conversations” about extending the relationship. Clearly, all parts of the Sox franchise are hoping he re-signs, even if it’s hard to see Murakami not getting a substantial raise.

On the field, when he’s right he’s one of baseball’s most powerful left-handed bats who knows how to work a count. Off the field, the Sox have benefited from his presence by marketing him extensively and perhaps gaining new fans in Japan.

“He’s been part of the success that we’ve had this year. It’s helped us win games,” Getz said. “It’s helped others gain confidence up here and belief that you can win games. That’s certainly something that we’re grateful for and thankful that we’ve gotten the opportunity to get to know him further. He’s a tremendous teammate, hard worker and he’s been productive.”

Just not as productive recently. Murakami is trying not to press through the slump, which has come at a bad time for the Sox, trying to hold off the Guardians for an AL Central title.

“Just keeping the same routine, the same preparation each day, each game. Very important to continue that,” Murakami told reporters Thursday in Houston via an interpreter. “And once that comes along, it’s going to be a different road again. That’s where I’m trying to go.”

The Sox know they’d like to go into their future with Venable, whose contract terms were never confirmed, but the franchise has traditionally given managers three-year deals. If that’s the case, Venable would enter 2027 on the last year of his contract if he’s not extended.

Hired Oct. 31, 2024, Venable walked into one of the toughest spots possible for a first-time manager. The Sox had just lost 121 games after being managed by the overmatched Pedro Grifol and well-meaning Grady Sizemore. The team didn’t need some changes, but a complete demolition and rebuild.

In just two years, Venable and the Sox are in first place with under a month left. Clearly, Venable hasn’t been perfect: the August gaffe when his second first-inning mound visit forced the Sox to remove Noah Schultz was a demerit, and his game management and bullpen moves have been questioned.

On Friday afternoon, Getz was full of praise for Venable, saying he’s been “fantastic” and done what the Sox have wanted and beyond. The Sox GM said he “definitely” wants Venable to be part of what they’re building, but added that they’re too focused on winning games to talk contract, and isn’t concerned about that topic because of the duo’s relationship.

“He’s been a great partner to me. He’s been a great teammate to the coaching staff and the players,” Getz said. “So, he’s definitely a guy of high value to us and want to continue to find ways to nurture that relationship.”