Miguel Vargas says he isn’t angry about the Dodgers winning back-to-back World Series championships, two key reasons rooted in Cuban pride through Andy Pages and the chance the White Sox gave him to play every day after the trade.
When the Dodgers capped their run to the last two World Series championships, Miguel Vargas didn’t look at it as payback for the move that sent him to the White Sox. He looked at it as something else entirely.
For Vargas, one reason is personal happiness that goes beyond the box score. Andy Pages, a fellow Cuban on the Dodgers, played a key role in both titles, including a season-saving catch in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 of the 2025 World Series.
“Seeing a Cuban guy win the World Series means a lot for us,” Vargas told the Sun-Times. “I know how hard it is for us to get here and get this opportunity. Being on the biggest stage, he made every Cuban proud.”
The other reason is what the trade meant to Vargas’ career. In Los Angeles. he came from an organization with immense depth—so it was unclear how he would fit into the lineup long-term. Then the move brought him to a team that. as Vargas made the adjustment. was on its way to losing a record 121 games.
But Vargas embraced the change quickly. The White Sox stuck with him through struggles in 2024, and now he has one of baseball’s most productive third basemen and a key piece of their future.
“It was a great opportunity for me. Coming here and having the opportunity to play every day and improve my game was a lot for me. ” Vargas said. “This team gave me the opportunity, and they trusted me to play third base every day. I’ve been playing pretty well this year and this team has too. so we’re all really happy about it.”.
There’s a clear sense in Vargas’ comments that “moving on” isn’t about forgetting—it’s about turning a difficult transition into stability and playing time. And for the White Sox, that stability is part of what has made the rebuild feel more tangible than abstract.
The Sox’s manager. Will Venable. put another name in the chain of influence when he was asked about the people who made the biggest impact on his career. Venable said the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts is in that group. along with Chris Young and Nick Hundley—former Padres teammates and executives with the Rangers where Venable served as assistant manager under Bruce Bochy.
When Venable was playing with the Padres, Roberts was a special assistant, first-base coach and bench coach. Venable said Roberts is someone “you just look up to” for how he handles his work.
“You get the lessons on leadership. You get the skills, outfield play, stealing bases,” Venable said. “A number of things that he’s just set a great example for, with me, and taught me about.”
Roberts also offered Venable advice during managerial job interviews between the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Venable is now in his second year running the Sox, so he doesn’t need to job hunt—but Roberts remains available.
“[He’s] somebody still if I have questions about things or I’m interested in certain dynamics of the job, I can pick up the phone and he’s always there to help me out,” Venable said.
On the field, the White Sox faced their own rough moment as Sean Burke struggled in a difficult outing. Burke went four innings, allowing four earned runs and two home runs while walking five. Over his past two starts, Burke has walked 10 batters and surrendered four homers in 8 1/3 innings.
Burke said he wasn’t in rhythm early, and his misses are too big.
“Execution doesn’t feel great right now,” Burke said.
After the outing, Burke’s ERA rose to 4.15.
Even with the on-field strain, Vargas’ message has stayed consistent: the Dodgers’ titles don’t land as bitterness for him. They land as proof that a Cuban thread can run through baseball’s biggest moments—and that the White Sox trade. however rocky it looked at first. became a doorway back to daily opportunity.
Miguel Vargas Los Angeles Dodgers Chicago White Sox World Series 2025 Andy Pages Dave Roberts Will Venable Sean Burke MLB
Dodgers gonna Dodgers. Still doesn’t fix how someone got traded in the first place.
Wait so he’s not mad the Dodgers won? I mean that’s wild, I would be petty. Also “121 games” like… 121 losses?? lol I’m confused.
Andy Pages saving the season or whatever and now Vargas is all good? I didn’t realize the Cuban pride angle was that big. I swear I saw somewhere it was cuz he didn’t want to play third anymore though.
This reads like he’s thanking the White Sox for the trade but also the Dodgers for the World Series?? Like ok. I don’t even understand how “play every day” turns into becoming one of the best third basemen unless they just benched everyone else. And the Cuban connection with Pages is cool, but the trade is still the trade. Dodgers fans will say karma or whatever.