Ventura will discuss his Chicago White Sox future at season's end
Is Robin Ventura going to stay? Or is he going to go?
With a 288-355 record since the 2013 season heading into Wednesday night's rain-delayed game against the Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field, baseball logic strongly suggests Ventura is in his final days as Chicago White Sox manager.
But the Sox often stray from standard operating procedures and, according to a report in USA Today, they have privately decided to retain Ventura as manager next season and possibly beyond.
There is one very important catch - the White Sox have not offered Ventura a new contract. His current deal expires Sunday.
Apparently, it is now up to Ventura to decide if he wants to come back for a sixth year in the dugout. After the regular season ends, the 49-year-old manager will discuss his future.
Ventura might wait until Monday before saying anything, the same day Sox general manager Rick Hahn is scheduled to speak to the media.
"I appreciate all the concern, but like I've said all year long, I'm waiting until the end of the year," said Ventura, a star third baseman for the White Sox from 1989-98. "Rick and I always have discussions, but I'm waiting until the end of the year."
This has been a tough season for Ventura. His headaches started in spring training, when ineffective designated hitter Adam LaRoche abruptly retired after Sox vice president Kenny Williams pulled the plug on son Drake LaRoche's unlimited clubhouse access.
On July 23, Ventura clashed with Chris Sale after the ace starting pitcher shredded the throwback uniforms the White Sox were scheduled to wear that night.
"It was quite a ride," Ventura said of the season, which he already has put in past tense. "It really was. You just deal with it when it happens. Like I said, every team has its challenge and this one is no different. We had some unique ones, I would say this year. You handle it, you handle it inside the clubhouse, and that's my job."
In August, Ventura said he'd like to return to the Sox next season "but they have to ask me first."
The White Sox reportedly are going to ask, but the feeling here is Ventura has had enough as a major-league manager.
He never campaigned for the job after former Sox teammate Ozzie Guillen's messy exit in 2011. Ventura certainly doesn't need the money after playing 16 major-league seasons and managing another five.
In typical fashion, Ventura tried taking the spotlight off himself Wednesday.
"I enjoy the job," he said. "Right now, we're dealing with rain and trying to figure out how we're going to do this. I'm figuring out how to get to the end of the year right now. "That's the biggest concern, and making sure everybody finishes it the way that they should professionally."
The White Sox defeated the Rays 1-0 after waiting out two rain delays totaling 1 hour, 37 minutes. Miguel Gonzalez (5-8) went right after Tampa Bay and breezed through 8⅓ innings.
"He's been great for us, he really has," Ventura said of Gonzalez. "He's got great movement, great control and poise on the mound. I love watching him pitch."
Todd Frazier decided the outcome with a home run in the seventh inning. The third baseman is the seventh player in franchise history to hit 40 homers.
"It's exciting," Frazier said. "I'm happy. Not many people hit 40 home runs in a year. It's a good feat to have."