ORLANDO -- Chris Getz is not about chasing victories.
Yes, the 2025 White Sox improved by 19 wins from the turmoil and pain that was the ‘24 season. If you believe any team should improve from a 41-121 showing, which is accurate, remember the South Siders finished 28-37 after the ‘25 All-Star break with many of their young prospects getting regular playing time and consistently producing during those on-field moments.
Getz, who was named the general manager in August 2023, is proudest of the process put in place to strengthen the overall organization.
“Very much focus on the process more so than the result,” said Getz during his Monday media session at the Winter Meetings. “If you become too result-oriented, it can take away the pathway to get there.
“Of course, it’s a results-based business. We know that to go out there and feel really good about our results, we have to have a really strong foundation and regularly execute with the group that we have here.”
Getz pointed to the strengthening of the White Sox infrastructure, from the international side to the amateur side, right on through the medical process and research and development. It’s led to better decisionmaking, bringing in better players and the improved development component with said players.
Colson Montgomery serves as a prime example of this process, with the shortstop, bouncing back from a miserable early ‘25 run with Triple-A Charlotte after an in-season reset at Camelback Ranch in Arizona, and knocking out 21 home runs in 71 big league games to finish fifth in the American League Rookie of the Year balloting after arriving on July 4th. Shane Smith was the top pick in the Rule 5 Draft at this time during the previous Winter Meetings and quickly grew into the team’s lone All-Star in ‘25 and the most consistent starter on the staff.
Teams don’t win on youth alone. So, Getz is residing near the Magic Kingdom with much of the rest of the White Sox front office and manager Will Venable looking for ways to continue to grow the organization.
Late-inning leverage could be one of those targets, with a source confirming to MLB.com the White Sox preliminary interest in free-agent reliever Pete Fairbanks. The 31-year-old right-hander recorded 90 saves over seven seasons, and would be an outstanding veteran presence to work alongside younger relievers such as Jordan Leasure, Grant Taylor and Mike Vasil.
Then again, there’s not a focus specifically on finding a closer for the White Sox.
“We’re looking to help our bullpen,” said Getz in big-picture terms, without addressing any specific pitcher. “And there’s different ways of doing that. I wouldn’t say it’s a set closer, so to speak.
“It would be nice to get someone who has closer experience, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to be a ninth-inning guy, or even an eighth-inning guy. Someone that can help in higher-leverage situations is something that we’re set out to add.”
Adding a reliever or another starter alongside the expected arrival of free agent Anthony Kay or a left-handed bat in a corner outfield will take some sort of financial commitment. Getz hasn’t shied away from being active to improve this team, but again, the focus goes back to the core’s development.
“A lot of that is going to be dependent on our ability to move this young group to the next level and take steps forward, which is something that is really hard to do,” Venable said during his media session. “Guys come up, and you're able to get some success early.
“The league knows you, and you have to adjust to another plan. So, yeah, we're excited about supporting these guys to do that, and it’s certainly going to be kind of an important piece.”
Important enough to have this team take another successful jump from ‘25 to ‘26, even if the win total is not the focus.
“I think significantly better,” Venable said of thoughts for ‘26. “That’s the plan.”
“Sure, I anticipate us being even better than we were last year,” Getz said. “We expect to take another jump this upcoming year. But most importantly, and these are conversations I have with Will and others, we are not focused on win totals. We are very much focused on staying on task and building opportunities to go out there and win a ballgame. Players are really starting to buy in and perform, and before you know it, you are going to look up and feel a lot better about our record.”