Despite being at the bottom of the league, the Chicago White Sox aren’t planning to fire their manager midseason.
Pedro Grifol recently met with owner Jerry Reinsdorf and GM Chris Getz, and while it may have sounded like support, it felt more like delaying the inevitable.
Bob Nightengale from USA Today reported that this meeting followed the team’s 17th consecutive loss, where they discussed a range of topics, including Grifol’s future.
Ultimately, they decided against making a change before the weekend series with the Minnesota Twins.
While Grifol could be let go at any moment—or possibly hang on until season’s end if the team manages a few wins—the White Sox plan to wait until the offseason before searching for a permanent replacement.
Taking over from Hall of Famer Tony La Russa after the 2022 season, Grifol has struggled with a .320 winning percentage (88-187), marking the worst record among active managers and the weakest for anyone who’ve managed at least 275 games since World War II.
Steph Chambers/Getty Images
Grifol’s contract is worth $3 million over three years, and it’s not unusual for managers to be dismissed before their contracts are finished, especially for a first-time manager like him, who was previously the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals.
There’s already speculation about potential replacements, with Miami Marlins’ manager Skip Schumaker considered the frontrunner. Schumaker is expected to part ways with the Marlins after this season, especially after they opted to eliminate his contract option, positioning him as a free agent.
As of Sunday, the White Sox have lost 19 straight games and are on track for a staggering 123 losses, which would set a new record for a single season.
Given the current state of the team, Grifol’s eventual firing might be a kind gesture—whenever it happens.