Martín Pérez wasn’t part of the White Sox for 121 games, nor did he contribute to the team’s league-worst -306 run differential. However, the veteran left-hander wants his teammates to know they belong.

Despite outside skepticism, he has been vocal in his belief that the team has what it takes to compete.

“People think we’re not contenders, but we’re going to be contenders,” Pérez told CHSN’s Chuck Garfein. “We’re here for a reason. I know we don’t have a lot of names, superstars. What we’ve got is what we’ve got.”

White Sox general manager Chris Getz tapped Perez to be the veteran Perez in the White Sox rotation. The 33-year-old southpaw agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million. Perez knows what it takes to win a championship. In 13 MLB seasons Perez owns a 4.44 ERA with a WAR of 14.5. He was given an All-Star nod in 2022 after finishing the season with a 2.89 ERA and then won a World Series ring in 2023 with the Texas Rangers.

“You have to go out and compete with the players that we have. That is one thing I’m trying to tell my teammates.  Nobody believes in us. The first person who has to believe is us.  If we believe, we’re going to be fine,” Perez said.

Outfielder Andrew Benintendi reinforced Pérez’s message, making it clear that the team isn’t counting themselves out before the season even begins.

“There’s no reason to go into the season thinking this thing is already over,” Benintendi said. “We’ll put our heads together and come up with plans of what we want to be and how we want to play and win baseball games.”

Unlike Perez, Benintendi was around for the 121-loss slog. But some fresh faces brought in this offseason, mixed with some talent coming through the pipeline, have players optimistic that things are going to improve this season. The oddsmakers are not as confident setting the White Sox over/under on wins at 49.5 games.