White Sox focused on task at hand ahead of All-Star Game, Trade Deadline

CHICAGO -- Manager Will Venable will frequently be asked about potential outside acquisitions leading up to the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline while presiding over the American League Central-leading White Sox.

A few of those questions arrived during Tuesday’s pregame managerial media session, prior to the start of this six-game homestand against the Red Sox and Athletics leading up to the All-Star break. One of those inquiries was fairly direct: “When you look at this team and the accomplishments so far, if you had to make one addition to this team, what would you personally like to see added?”

Venable spoke of the team always trying to get better, but he focused more on what he could control. Areas such as defense, baserunning and execution on the mound were targeted for improvement with 72 games to play after Tuesday’s contest.

“My job is to make sure we are doing a better job internally,” Venable said. “[General manager Chris Getz] will figure out what additions might be able to help us out.”

A veteran reporter pointed out Venable's answer was “no fun,” drawing smiles and laughter from everyone, including Venable.

“I’ve got enough to worry about here,” Venable said.

That comment brings us back full circle to the core of what works for the 2026 White Sox, which is simply looking no further than the game the day at hand.

After losing two straight walk-offs to the Guardians in Cleveland to lose control of first place, the White Sox fought back through two close ones to split the series and retake the AL Central top spot.

This theory also applies in a roundabout way for selections to the All-Star Game taking place on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Or in the case of the White Sox, who entered Tuesday with the AL’s third-best record, it’s a lack of All-Star selections.

Third baseman Miguel Vargas was the lone White Sox selection, voted into his first Midsummer Classic via the players’ ballots, and certainly deserved the recognition. Starting pitcher Davis Martin and shortstop Colson Montgomery are two of a number of White Sox who also have the numbers to potentially make their way to Philadelphia as a roster replacement.

Martin, who brings a 5-0 record with a 0.88 ERA at home into his final start before the break on Wednesday, showed brief frustration with the snub. But he immediately put team achievement above individual accolades.

“To be honest, if it’s God’s plan, it’s God’s plan for me. If it’s not, obviously it hurts,” Martin told MLB.com. “I feel like me, Colson, Sam Antonacci, Tristan Peters, Chase Meidroth, a lot of really good candidates. But at the end of the day, you got to go play the game.

“Vargas earned it and played well. He has been the backbone of our lineup since [Munetaka Murakami] has been out. He’s kind of carried the boat, so we are super happy for him. We’ve already messed with him a little bit, talking about how he’s getting a big head. That’s just where we are at. We love celebrating each other’s successes.”

After the news was announced on Saturday, Martin said he had a brief conversation with Montgomery. They then moved back to winning baseball.

“We still have a job to do,” Martin said. “We still have things we want to accomplish as a team, so we can be mad at it for a day, and today’s a new day and we get back to work.”

Antonacci didn’t think much about an All-Star selection, despite his .377 on-base percentage ranking third among MLB rookies, his .284 average tied for fourth, his .789 OPS tied for seventh and his 46 runs scored checking in fifth entering Chicago's game Tuesday. He plans to have the All-Star Game on his phone, watching Vargas.

His support comes even after Vargas playfully jabbed Antonacci about costing him more productive numbers overall.

“He gives me a lot of deserved crap for saying he could have a few more RBIs, which might have helped him be the starter,” Antonacci said with a smile. “So, sorry to Miggy on that one.

“I’ll wear it. A few times, I could have scored, but I didn’t. You can’t get RBIs back. It’s partly my fault, so sorry, Vargy.”

There’s very little to be sorry about with this solid first-half performance by the White Sox.