Chris Getz wasn’t ready to put a timeline on anything Friday, but the White Sox general manager made it clear where his head is when it comes to Munetaka Murakami and Will Venable: keep both around if the conversations keep pointing that way.
During a 20-minute pregame session in Chicago, Getz addressed the club’s star first baseman and its manager, with contract extension talk only a small slice of the discussion. Murakami, who came over from Japan on a two-year, $34 million free-agent deal, has become a major part of what the White Sox are building, both on the field and in the Pacific Rim market.
“We’re going to continue to have those conversations,” Getz said. “And see where it takes us.”
Murakami has put together a big season, entering Friday with 29 home runs and an .836 OPS. Getz praised the 26-year-old’s impact on the clubhouse and the team’s results.
“Mune’s meant a lot to this organization. He has.
He’s been part of the success that we’ve had this year,” Getz said. “It’s helped us win games.
It’s helped others gain confidence up here and belief that you can win games. That’s certainly something that we’re grateful for and thankful that we’ve gotten the opportunity to get to know him further.
“He’s a tremendous teammate, hard worker, and he’s been productive. I know right now he hasn’t been as productive as he had been earlier in the year, but he’s still a threat at the plate, taking his walks, and we know that he’s a power threat.”
Murakami’s 81 walks set a new single-season White Sox rookie record, but he has also hit a rough patch. Entering Friday’s game, he was 13-for-101 since Aug. 5, with 45 strikeouts, five home runs and eight RBIs.
Getz said slumps are part of the ride and pointed to the rest of the roster for helping keep the team steady.
“Players go through different experiences throughout their season - they’re riding the highs and at times riding the lows a little bit,” Getz said. “That’s why this clubhouse has been so successful, because they’ve supported one another. It’s not just one player.
“I know Mune wants to be productive on a regular basis, but there are other players that have stepped up along the way. Let’s just go out there and compete.”
The other name in the conversation was Venable, who is under contract through ’27 on a three-year deal. The White Sox don’t publicly announce manager salaries or contract lengths as a practice, but Getz sounded comfortable with where things stand and even more comfortable with where they could go.
“We are focused on winning games right now, and that’s just not a concern because of the relationship Will and I have,” Getz said. “Will has been fantastic.
He’s done what we wanted and beyond. He really has.
He’s been a great partner to me. He’s been a great teammate to the coaching staff and the players.
“So, he’s definitely a guy of high value to us, and we want to continue to find ways to nurture that relationship. Definitely want him to be part of what we continue to build right now.”
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