Veteran left-hander Martin Perez is the White Sox’ highest-paid free agent of the offseason at an affordable $5 million in 2025.
Perez won’t sell tickets during a season that figures to be one of the Sox’ worst at the gate. The 2024 team drew only 1,380,733 fans and set a modern-era record for losses in a season. Chairman Jerry
Reinsdorf — after seeing his $203 million payroll in 2022 (the seventh-highest among teams, according to Spotrac) produce an 81-81 record — watched attendance sag with his deplorable product on the field the last two seasons and is saving cash and rebuilding for the second time since 2016. The Sox’ payroll in 2025 is estimated at $79.7 million, higher only than the Marlins’ $76.3 million.
What’s more, it stands to reason that the possibility of a work stoppage after the 2026 season presents a “what’s the use” question when it comes to throwing money at a roster for the sake of a few more wins.
Perhaps trying to avoid a third consecutive 100-loss season would be an answer or something as bad as 110 losses. Or, dare we say, not breaking their 121-loss record set last season.
When a half-season of Erick Fedde, Tommy Pham and Paul DeJong and a full season of Garrett Crochet are subtracted from the 2025 projection, with Perez and $3.5 million infielder Josh Rojas as the top additions, who’s to say the Sox are poised to improve?
PECOTA projections, which are generally respected in the industry and based on data that matter, have the Sox at 101 losses, an estimate widely viewed as optimistic even for the most pessimistic Sox fans.
This is barring additions before Opening Day, and GM Chris Getz said the “heavy lifting” for roster construction is probably over as the Sox head to spring training this week. Perez and Rojas will be the fourth- and fifth-highest-paid Sox in base salary in ’25 behind outfielders Luis Robert Jr. ($16.5 million) and Andrew Benintendi ($15 million) and first baseman Andrew Vaughn ($5.85 million). For the right trade, Robert could be shown the door this spring or summer.
Getz and first-year manager Will Venable sidestepped questions about win expectations this offseason, knowing there’s nothing to gain from them and probably knowing how overmatched this current roster will be. It’s something to process knowing the Sox could make a 20-win improvement this season and lose 101 games.
“Win-and-loss records are vital to the success of an organization, but we also know where we’re at,” Getz said, “and wins will come if we go about the development of our players. If we put them in a position for success, and you execute, wins will come.”
Getz’s and Venable’s theme is development, a restructured organization with believed-to-be smarter people in place and a farm system boasting six of the top 66 prospects — left-hander Noah Schultz (No. 26), catcher Kyle Teel (32), left-hander Hagen Smith (34), shortstop Colson Montgomery (39), right fielder Braden Montgomery (55) and catcher Edgar Quero (66), according to MLB Pipeline. ESPN and Baseball America rank the Sox’ farm system second and fourth, respectively.
Perez, acquired by the Padres at the 2024 trade deadline, proved worthwhile with a 3.46 ERA in 10 starts down the stretch for a contender. He knows his role and said what he needed to say about it last week. He also knows he could be flipped to a contending team again at the trade deadline.
“For me and [Venable], it’s an opportunity for both to go to the White Sox and do what we have to, teach the guys to compete and how to play baseball to win games,” said Perez, a 2022 All-Star who won a World Series ring with Venable and the Rangers in 2023.
That will begin in spring training. Perez said he’s ready to be a veteran voice and leader for young pitchers such as Jonathan Cannon, Sean Burke, Drew Thorpe and others.
“I’m going to be there for my teammates, the younger guys, whatever questions they have for me,” Perez, 33, said.
“What happened last year is just last year. This is a new year. We have to have goals, personal and as a team. Then we can move on every day. And with our manager, we’re going to be good.”
Venable, who sat alongside Bruce Bochy during the Rangers’ World Series title run and worked on coaching staffs under Joe Maddon and Joey Cora with the Cubs and Red Sox, will lay the groundwork for the culture he wants to create with a developing team in his first year.
“He knows what he needs to do,” said Perez, a Ranger in 2022 and ’23. “That communication he’s going to have with his players is going to be the key for the guys. I’m going to be there to help them. I’m going to be there to help any guy, any coach that needs my help.”
Did someone say “help”? The first day for pitchers and catchers at Sox camp in Glendale, Arizona, is Wednesday, and the first full-squad workout is Feb.17.