Former Chicago Cubs coach lands first managerial job with Crosstown Rivals

The Chicago Cubs made a shocking move last offseason by announcing the firing of manager David Ross and the hiring of Craig Counsell.

This was surprising not only because management and the ownership group had just given Ross their full support before walking away from him, but the Cubs also hired Counsell away from a division rival. Milwaukee Breweries making him the highest-paid captain in Major League Baseball history.

We hoped this would get the most out of an underperforming group that has missed the playoffs every year since 2020, and while that wasn’t the case last season, Chicago is confident they have the right man to lead them forward for many years.

Although the game of baseball is ultimately decided by the players on the field and the front office who determines the lineup, having the right manager is important during the long season of Major League Baseball.

That’s exactly the point Chicago White Sox we were looking after leaving Pedro Grifola.

According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, they are hiring Texas Rangers assistant manager Will Venable to take over and lead this franchise into the future.

Venable has been with the Rangers working under legendary captain Bruce Bochy since he was hired in November 2022, and in his first year in the role, he helped the team win its first-ever World Series title.

The 42-year-old began his career with the Cubs in 2017, when he was hired as a special assistant to then-president Theo Epstein. After one season in that role, he was hired as the first base coach for 2018 and 2019, then moved to third base in 2020.

Venable was then hired by the team’s Alex Cora Boston Red Sox to serve as his reserve coach, a position he held until he was brought in by Bochy.

The White Sox hope the hiring will be a stabilizing force in their management after only one captain has had a winning record since Ozzie Guillen left in 2011.