White Sox talking about 'trying to win now'

Left fielder Andrew Benintendi has endured a lot of turnover and a heck of a lot of losses since joining the White Sox in 2022.

He saw the previous rebuild give way to a 101-loss season in 2023, then an all-time low as the Sox set the modern-era record with 121 losses in 2024. On top of that, he has dealt with injuries while failing to live up to the five-year, $75 million contract he signed three years ago.

But having been a part of other teams with rich traditions — the Red Sox, Royals and Yankees — Benintendi knows what winning looks like, going back more than 10 years to when he was part of the talent-loaded Red Sox farm system that prepared him for his major-league call-up in 2016. Two seasons later, he had a World Series ring.

He realizes he likely won’t be around to see the White Sox’ current rebuild all the way through, but he has observed promising signs this spring.

After so many years of losing, the Sox, he believes, are ready to turn the page.

“The past few years have been tough going through a rebuild,” he told the Sun-Times this week. “A lot of young guys will come into this year with a little more experience. This has been an exciting spring so far, and I think we’re all excited to come and go prove ourselves.”

Many of the bright spots began last season with improved production from young players. Right-hander Shane Smith, who will start Thursday on Opening Day against the Brewers, developed into an All-Star as a big-league rookie in 2025. Shortstop Colson Montgomery burst onto the scene with power, hitting 21 homers in just 71 games after debuting in July. Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel emerged as a formidable catching tandem.

Although they still finished 60-102, the Sox showed a hopeful new energy in the second half — a common talking point among the free agents who signed with them this offseason, a group that included Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, All-Star outfielder Austin Hays and right-handed closer Seranthony Dominguez.

But with hope comes expectations, and Sox players arrived at camp last month with serious intent.

“It’s just like what [Benintendi] said earlier this spring training: We’re trying to win now,” right-hander Davis Martin said. “You don’t just turn on the switch. In spring trainings past, we’ve been like, ‘Let’s just go through the motions.’ ”

Until this offseason, the Sox had largely worked on improving their foundation while the big-league team languished. They beefed up their international scouting department and hired executives from outside the organization to encourage fresh thinking.

Since last fall, they’ve taken additional small steps forward — moves that signal their intent to avoid another 100-loss season, but not with onerous long-term contracts. Time will tell if they should have invested more in their rotation or the outfield.

With that in mind, getting off to a good start will be critical for a team filled with young guys who, unlike Benintendi, haven’t yet been part of a culture of winning. The Sox went 7-23 in March and April last season.

“Everybody wanted to take strides and take it seriously so that when we start the year, we get off to a better start than last year,” Smith said. “We want to win baseball games.”

Every team does. For the Sox, it starts with establishing they’re finally ready to compete.