White Sox Believe They Have 'Momentum' Heading Into 2026 Season

GM Chris Getz and manager Will Venable see a team poised to build on progress from last year's 19-win improvement.

Jan. 29, 2026 at 9:47pm

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The Chicago White Sox are entering the 2026 season with a sense of optimism, according to general manager Chris Getz and manager Will Venable. After three straight 100-loss seasons, the team showed significant improvement in 2025, winning 19 more games than the previous year. Getz and Venable believe the team's young core, including shortstop Colson Montgomery, catcher Kyle Teel, and infielder Chase Meidroth, is ready to take another step forward. The White Sox made several offseason moves, including signing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami and trading center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets, that they hope will help the team reach another level.

Why it matters

The White Sox have struggled mightily in recent years, setting a modern major league record for losses in 2024. However, the team's 19-win improvement in 2025 has generated a sense of optimism and momentum heading into the 2026 season. If the young core can continue to develop and the team's offseason moves pay dividends, the White Sox could be poised to return to contention in the AL Central.

The details

The White Sox have three straight 100-loss seasons since finishing 81-81 in 2022. They went 60-102 and finished last in the AL Central in Venable's first season as manager in 2025, but that was a 19-win improvement from 2024, when they were 41-121 and shattered the franchise record for losses. The team has a promising group of young players, including shortstop Colson Montgomery, catcher Kyle Teel, and infielder Chase Meidroth, that Getz and Venable believe are ready to take another step forward. In the offseason, the White Sox signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami and traded center fielder Luis Robert Jr. to the New York Mets, acquiring speedy infielder Luisangel Acuña and minor league pitcher Truman Pauley in return. They also signed right-hander Seranthony Domínguez to a $20-million, two-year contract to serve as their closer.

  • The White Sox will hold their first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers on February 10, 2026.
  • Getz and Venable spoke about the team's outlook on January 30, 2026, ahead of the team's annual fan festival.

The players

Chris Getz

The general manager of the Chicago White Sox.

Will Venable

The manager of the Chicago White Sox.

Colson Montgomery

A promising young shortstop in the White Sox organization.

Kyle Teel

A promising young catcher in the White Sox organization.

Chase Meidroth

A promising young infielder in the White Sox organization.

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What they’re saying

“I think we're going to make a meaningful step forward.”

— Chris Getz, General Manager (abc7chicago.com)

“It's significant, and the way that we feel about it and the way that people talk about it, it's real and it's something that I think we're excited about.”

— Will Venable, Manager (abc7chicago.com)

“Every single manager in the big leagues is looking for their club to get to that level, and that certainly makes my job easier if they already believe. My job is to say, 'This is what we have to do to get there.'”

— Will Venable, Manager (abc7chicago.com)

What’s next

The White Sox will hold their first spring training workout for pitchers and catchers on February 10, 2026, as they look to build on the progress made in 2025 and take another step forward in the 2026 season.

The takeaway

After three straight 100-loss seasons, the Chicago White Sox are entering the 2026 season with a renewed sense of optimism and momentum. The team's young core of players, combined with several key offseason moves, have the White Sox believing they can continue to improve and potentially return to contention in the AL Central.