Levine: White Sox Reload For Robin Ventura In Possible Walk Season

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The final year of White Sox manager Robin Ventura's current contract should be one of interest and scrutiny. Entering his fifth season as manager, Ventura hasn't had a successful team on the field since his first year in 2012. With the team's recent big additions of All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier and second baseman Brett Lawrie, much will be expected of Ventura and his White Sox in 2016.

Ventura had his club in first place in the AL Central for 117 days in 2012 before being overtaken by the Tigers in the last three weeks of the season. Since that time, Chicago has spent precious few days over .500. In fairness to Ventura -- who has a career 297-351 managerial record -- his 2013 and 2014 teams had little talent to work with and few expectations.

In 2015, the White Sox went all out in both the free-agent and trade markets. The team had playoff-worthy talent, and expectations were just that. Ownership, management and the fan base were counting on big-time results, but the White Sox were disappointing from spring training on. Under Ventura and his staff, the club fell flat from jump street.

The White Sox finished 76-86, only at or above .500 for a measly three days in the latter half of May. That was it -- one day over .500 for a team with a $120 million payroll and one that moved four minor league players to acquire right-hander Jeff Samardzija in December 2014.

This year, Ventura's White Sox are expected to bring better results. Ventura will have at least four new position players to choose from and a new bench coach in former Cubs manager Rick Renteria. Leadership in the clubhouse was a huge problem for Ventura and his coaches last year. Following the retirement of longtime captain after the 2014 season and prior to the 2015 campaign, the White Sox front office brought in quality players and people, but none of them wanted to overstep their bounds as new players and take control of the leadership void in the clubhouse. The role of leader had been handled by Konerko for what seemed like forever during his 16 years with the team.

The White Sox have close to zero continuity of homegrown talent among their position players. The longest-tenured position players on the team are first baseman Jose Abreu, outfielder Adam Eaton and outfielder Avisail Garcia, all three of whom are entering their third year with the organization. Only 11 of the players on the 40-man roster were originally signed by the White Sox.

This isn't necessarily an indictment of the front office. As general manager Rick Hahn said Tuesday, minor league players are developed both for the major league team and to bring back other quality players in trades. The White Sox have acted accordingly when they've seen fit, as they did in Wednesday's trade to acquire Frazier from the Reds while sending three young players to the Dodgers in the three-team deal.

That said, it will be expected that Ventura and his staff lead this team to a fast start in 2016 marked by consistent play.

"You continue to see guys growing into roles," Ventura said about finding leaders. "That stuff (leading) evolves and becomes easier to do. For us, when you add a guy like Frazier, you're adding quality person and a standup guy. He is a leader, and we expect stuff like that to happen. We think that will evolve."

Ventura, 48, is a self-confident, quality person who boasts great intellect. The problem is still that the waters run deep. He refuses to explain the way he leads or confronts players in tough situations. Certainly, Ventura won't put on a show for the fan base just to keep his job.

Nonetheless, he must get results from this team early in the season or face his baseball fate. Reinforcements in the force of Frazier and Lawrie have arrived to help him do that.

"This is a sign we are trying to improve for 2016," Ventura said of the two trades. "When you give up prospects for Todd and Brett, you are putting your foot forward for 2016. We are not really looking that much further down the road. We are not giving up everything (in the minor leagues). We still have those players in the back that are coming up that can help us. No doubt, when you add Frazier and Lawrie, you are trying to improve for this year."

Ventura's a fierce competitor with a strong desire to win, despite what the casual White Sox fan may believe about him.

That fire is burning now, and his fate could be determined early on by the results of this newly branded White Sox club.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.