ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the Chicago White Sox prepare for the 2026 season, their front office is adopting elements of the Tampa Bay Rays’ business and player development model in an effort to build sustained success with a lower payroll.

Tropicana Field, home of the Rays since 1990, was originally conceived as part of an effort to attract the White Sox to Florida. That plan never materialized after the Sox secured funding for New Comiskey Park in 1988. Now, more than three decades later, the White Sox are seeking to emulate the Rays' approach rather than their location.

In roughly 25 years of existence, the Rays have made 11 postseason appearances, including two World Series runs, while maintaining one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball. In contrast, the White Sox, a franchise with a much longer history, have struggled to match that level of consistent success.

Chicago’s general manager, Chris Getz, has been closely studying how teams like the Rays and Milwaukee Brewers have thrived while operating with financial discipline. To that end, the Sox recently hired former Rays executive Carlos Rodriguez as an assistant general manager. Rodriguez spent more than 15 years with Tampa Bay, overseeing player development and operational strategies.

The White Sox have also brought in former Rays players, including Tanner Murray, Everson Pereira, and Tristan Peters. While their connections to Tampa Bay were not the sole factor in their acquisition, it aligns with the Sox’s vision to incorporate the Rays’ culture.

Peters, who made his Major League debut with the Sox as a rookie All-Star, notes the similarities in playing style and team ethos between the two clubs. “Kind of the same play style... They’re bunting; we bunt, or we’ve got that small ball. Just that grit factor,” Peters said. “I know some of the guys on the team. They’re ballers; they’re good people, too. Similar team.”

Peters also emphasized the shared focus on team cohesion and playing for one another, crediting his experience with Tampa Bay’s culture. The Rays’ approach, often described internally as built around “pillars” such as decision-making, contact, and power—or “damage” as the Sox call it—also influences Chicago’s player evaluations and development philosophy.

Although Peters saw limited time with the Rays’ major league squad—appearing in only four games in 2025—his years in Tampa Bay’s minor league system instilled these principles. Getz hopes to leverage such lessons to identify and cultivate players who can contribute long-term.

Under manager Will Venable, the White Sox are already implementing aspects of this method on the field. The front office expects Rodriguez to play a key role in further embedding the Rays’ talent acquisition and development strategy.

The Rays have proven that success can be achieved without a high payroll or marquee stars, continuing their playoff runs even after the departure of baseball chief Andrew Friedman in 2014. Their ability to sustain competitiveness despite financial constraints remains a model the White Sox aspire to replicate.

“There’s a lot of similarities,” Peters said of the Rays’ influence on Chicago’s evolving approach, reflecting a shared emphasis on teamwork, player development, and strategic spending.