The Chicago White Sox wasted no time initiating their offseason overhaul. A recent report revealed that the team will not renew the contracts of four key members of the 2025 coaching staff: pitching coach Ethan Katz, hitting coach Marcus Thames, first base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois, and catching coach Drew Butera. General manager Chris Getz called the decision tough but necessary, emphasizing the organization’s goal of giving players “the best possible vision, ideas and resources” moving forward.
The sweeping changes highlight how committed Chicago is to changing its direction. During the 2025 campaign, the White Sox remained deep in a rebuild—experimenting with lineups, promoting prospects, and reshaping their roster. Now, the front office is making it clear that player development will hinge on a refreshed coaching foundation. With four major coaches departing, the organization has a significant opportunity to reset.
“While we greatly appreciate everything Ethan, Marcus, Jason and Drew have done for this organization, Will and I made the very difficult decision to implement several changes to our coaching staff for 2026,” Getz said.
“Our respect for these coaches as individuals and professionals made these decisions challenging, and we’re grateful for their many contributions. Our focus remains on providing our players with the best possible vision, ideas and resources to continue their growth and development.”
The Departing Coaches: Experience, Change, and Context
Katz, the longest-serving of the departing coaches, had been the White Sox’s pitching coach since 2021. His time with the team stretched across several organizational phases, yielding mixed results amid constant roster changes and a youth-driven rebuild. Thames, Bourgeois, and Butera were more recent additions (joining around 2024) who remained through the 2025 season before being dismissed.
These moves represent more than just a surface-level shakeup. From pitching to hitting, and from base running to catching instruction, Chicago is making room for new perspectives. While the organization publicly thanked the outgoing staff and emphasized the difficulty of the decisions, the message is clear: this is a purposeful step toward a new direction.
What These Coaches Represented
Katz played a key role in guiding a young and often unsettled pitching staff, but his exit indicates the organization is seeking a new developmental perspective—or a broader shift in pitching philosophy.
Thames was responsible for hitting instruction, and his departure may point to frustration with offensive production or a move toward a different organizational approach.
Bourgeois, who coached first base and the outfield, oversaw baserunning, defensive positioning, and outfield alignment.
Butera handled the catching corps, a crucial area focused on framing, game-calling, and overall defensive leadership.
These weren’t peripheral positions—they were central to the team’s daily operations. Replacing them isn’t simply about new hires, but about shaping the culture the club wants to cultivate.
“Decisions like these are incredibly tough,” manager Will Venable said. “These are friends and colleagues who have shared every challenge and every moment with us. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and professionalism each day. At the same time, we have both short- and long-term goals we’re working toward as an organization and as a team.”
What the Sox Have Up Their Sleeve
Although the White Sox chose not to renew several coaching contracts, they did announce one key retention: Grady Sizemore will be offered a position within the organization for 2026. Sizemore, who served as offensive coordinator in 2025 and took over as interim manager after Pedro Grifol’s dismissal, represents a measure of continuity amid broader change. His return suggests the team values maintaining some internal stability and institutional knowledge even as it reshapes its staff.
The rest of the 2025 coaching crew—bench coach Walker McKinven, third base/infield coach Justin Jirschele, assistant pitching coach Matt Wise, and assistant hitting coach Joel McKeithan—will remain in their roles for now. That combination of continuity and turnover could ease the transition into a new era.
“Our job is to give our players every opportunity to grow and succeed, which includes continually evaluating how our staff can best support them,” Venable said. “These decisions are difficult, but they reflect our commitment to helping our players and organization reach their full potential together.”
The next steps fall to Getz and Venable, who must now move quickly to fill the vacancies with coaches whose philosophies align with the team’s evolving direction. The organization has indicated that the search process will begin immediately.
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