More candidates are reportedly dropping out of the mix for the White Sox manager job as a clear favorite has emerged. On Sunday MLB Network’s Jon Heyman provided several updates on the White Sox managerial search, including that the “team is taking a hard look at Rangers bench coach Will Venable.”
Venable has been linked to the position for several weeks. His championship experience as an associate manager under Bruce Bochy is exactly what Chris Getz is looking to bring into the White Sox clubhouse. Venable is a well-respected baseball mind and has already turned down several managing opportunities.
As a former outfielder, he spent nine seasons in the show. Upon his retirement, he gained experience as a special assistant in the Cubs front office under Theo Epstein in 2017, before taking as the Boston Red Sox bench coach for World Series-winning manager Alex Cora.
The news comes the same day that ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported Dodger’s first base coach Clayton McCullough, who was once seen as the favorite for the job, was eliminated from contention by the team. Padres special assistant AJ Ellis also removed himself from the search for “family considerations”.
McCullough and Ellis are not the only two names who are reportedly no longer in the running for the job. According to Heyman Tiger’s bench coach George Lombard is also out of the mix. Known candidates still in consideration to be the next White Sox skipper include Venable, Phil Nevin, and Grady Sizemore. However, Heyman indicates that Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz has garnered interest from the White Sox and Marlins.
The Marlins are the only other team in the MLB looking for a new manager. Because of this many of the candidates the White Sox have circled are also in consideration for the Marlins, who have already interviewed Albernaz.
The soon-to-be 43-year-old coach wrapped up his first season in the Guardians dugout after spending the 2019-2022 seasons as the San Fransisco Giants bullpen and catching coach. His time with the Giants gives him connections to White Sox senior pitching advisor Brian Bannister, who served as the director of pitching in San Francisco during Albernaz’s three seasons in the Bay Area.
