What happened: The BBWAA announced its 2026 manager awards Tuesday. Venable had already received the Sporting News' AL manager honor in peer voting.

Why it matters: Chicago's playoff berth capped a turnaround that put Venable in the award race. BBWAA ballots were cast before the postseason, so the vote reflects regular-season performance.

What to watch: The next test is whether Chicago can sustain its improvement in 2027.