Though the Chicago White Sox were expected to potentially contend this season, they are going to likely finish under .500 for the fourth straight season, which normally would mean bad news for manager Robin Ventura.
However, the White Sox are apparently preparing to bring Ventura back for a sixth season (and beyond) in the South Side dugout by offering him a new long-term extension – but only if he wants to take it.
No contract negotiations have begun, and the club hasn’t made any public announcements. The 49-year old manager makes about $1.5 million and has indicated he’d like to continue managing, though he hasn’t indicated whether Chicago is the place for him to continue to do so.
At the moment, the team is 373-432 under Ventura, which is a .463 winning percentage. They have only had a losing record in four consecutive seasons two other times in franchise history, and the club has only had six managers last longer than five seasons at the helm.
The White Sox had looked as if they were making some good strides the past couple of offseasons, yet they haven’t been able to turn some of that on-paper promise into on-field promise. Whether keeping Ventura in the dugout will eventually buck that negative trend remains to be seen.
