AL Central Notes: Robin Ventura’s job security, J.D. Martinez injury

Adding James Shields hasn’t helped the White Sox much, and as a result, Robin Ventura’s status as manager has been questioned.

Chicago sits three and a half games behind Cleveland in the American League Central and the club has said it is open to making other moves to improve its roster. The White Sox could quickly gain ground, which might complicate Ventura’s job security.

A new manager could inherit a team in a position to make a playoff run.

Chicago’s front office has acknowledged Ventura isn’t the only one to blame, but he might be deemed responsible, according to FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman:

Nobody believes it’s necessarily Ventura’s fault but there is a growing feeling, even among some with the team, that it might not hurt to do something. “I think patience has been showed,” one White Sox person said. General manager Rick Hahn declined to comment at this time.

More from around the AL Central:

• With the Cavaliers at one point down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, things weren’t looking good for Cleveland. But now, the Cavaliers have an opportunity to win a title and the Indians are in first place. Things are going better than they have in the past.

• Kansas City’s “competitive window” opened in 2011 and it doesn’t have much longer to contend regularly, which makes these next few seasons much more important.

• Detroit was forced to place outfielder J.D. Martinez on the disabled list Friday morning. The club should be OK with him not active, though.

• Glen Perkins is out for the season with a torn labrum, which complicates things in the back end of Minnesota’s bullpen.

• It doesn’t seem there will be a new owner in Chicago in the near future.