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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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The worst team in baseball won't fire its manager at midseason.
For Pedro Grifol of the Chicago White Sox, a meeting with owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Chris Getz might have been less of a wholehearted endorsement than a stay of execution.
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Grifol's meeting with his bosses ended with the conclusion that Grifol's firing was inevitable — a question of when, not if:
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The Chicago White Sox had a lengthy private meeting Wednesday after their 17th consecutive defeat with owner Jerry Reinsdorf, GM Chris Getz, and manager Pedro Grifol to address a myriad of issues with their woeful team, including Grifol's future.
They ultimately decided not to fire him before their weekend series against the Minnesota Twins.
While Grifol could still be fired any day – or even last until the end of the year if they suddenly start sprinkling in a few victories – the White Sox have no plans to look for a permanent replacement until after the season.
Grifol succeeded Hall of Famer Tony La Russa as the White Sox's manager after the 2022 season. Since then he's amassed a .320 winning percentage (88-187), the lowest among active managers and the lowest by anyone who's managed at least 275 games since World War II.
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Grifol's contract will pay him $3 million over three years, per Nightengale's report. It's not uncommon for managers to be fired before their contracts expire. As a first-time manager, Grifol's contract is relatively inexpensive. He left for Chicago from his job as the Kansas City Royals' bench coach.
Nightengale went on to suggest there's already a leading candidate for the job if (when) Grifol leaves: current Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, who's expected to leave the Marlins after the season.
Earlier this year, the Marlins took the unusual step of eliminating Schumaker's contract option for next year, allowing him to become a free agent at the end of this season. Given the Marlins' place in the standings — 41-70 through Saturday, half a game behind Colorado for the worst record in the National League — Schumaker might have his sights set higher than the job on the South Side of Chicago.
The White Sox enter Sunday's game against Minnesota having lost 19 games in a row. They're on pace to lose 123 games, a new single-season record for futility.
Under the circumstances facing the White Sox, Grifol's firing might be an act of mercy — if and when it arrives.
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