Martín Pérez and Will Venable were teammates on the Texas Rangers in 2015.
The two reconnected in Boston and later again in Texas, where Pérez pitched while Venable worked on both coaching staffs.
Pérez said Venable’s role as the new Chicago White Sox manager played a factor in him recently signing with the club.
“We are really good friends,” Pérez said during a videoconference call Friday. “We have a really good relationship. A guy you can trust. And he understands, he will tell the guys what they need to do and he’s going to be honest, that’s the biggest thing for me. And another thing, the communication with players is going to be good for us.
“If you want a good team, (a) contender, everything comes from the leader and he’s going to be a good leader. He trusts us. And when you have that from the manager you’re going to cross the lines and give 100 percent.”
Venable is gearing up for his first spring training as a skipper. As SoxFest Live wrapped up Saturday at Ramova Theatre, the attention turns to Feb. 12, when pitchers and catchers report to the team’s camp in Glendale, Ariz. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 17.
“Really ironing out our messaging, what some of our drills will look like (and) how we are going to support these guys to be at their best during camp,” Venable said Thursday. “And I’ve also had more in-depth conversations with the players, which has been really exciting for me.
“Talking more about their personal goals. The thing you hear across the board with our players is their excitement for the opportunity this year and this spring training will present for them.”
First baseman Andrew Vaughn said those conversations have been productive.
“Really excited to get to know him,” Vaughn said during a videoconference call Friday. “(We) played on the other side of the field from him, as a coach. We are excited to see how this thing is going to roll. We are talking about the expectation of spring training and going in and being open minded and attacking the situation there.”
Venable played nine seasons in the majors as an outfielder and later took on coaching positions with the Chicago Cubs, Red Sox and Rangers.
“He’s a guy that we want to play for,” catcher Korey Lee told the Tribune on Friday at SoxFest Live. “He’s going to be a guy that we can go to. He’s going to be very approachable. He’s going to be able to talk to us as a coach, and also as a guy that’s been there. He played for a while, which is awesome to look up to as a coach and a manager. Nothing but good things that I’ve heard about Will also. That goes a long way.”
Venable has received advice from managers throughout the league since being named Sox manager in November.
“These guys have done a great job just reaching out and touching base and offered support,” Venable said. “Through those conversations, it’s just been about the added effort you need to have to touch base with certain people, that as things will naturally speed up and as we get into the flow of things my energy and my time will be spread out in a lot of different places.
“Kind of the overarching message I got from a lot of these guys is make sure you’re prioritizing your time in the right way, which is something that I’ve appreciated.”
Venable is ready to put it all to good use this spring.
“We have to support our players in accomplishing the things they need to accomplish on a daily basis,” Venable said. “Spring training is a great opportunity to really get in the weeds on those things and help these guys build their routines that we know are going to carry them throughout the season and help them be at their best.
“An opportunity for guys to connect on the field, off the field and build that camaraderie that will be a carrier for us through the adversity of the season and accomplish the things we need to do as a unit on the field in executing team fundamentals and defining those. In all those areas, we are excited to get to work.”