White Sox fire Pedro Grifol, end era that never was
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White Sox manager Pedro Grifol before a July 29 home game against the Mariners. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
The White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol in the midst of a brutal season that could end up being the worst in baseball history.
The big picture: Grifol lasted less than two seasons as the Sox manager, amassing a woeful 89-190 record.
- This week, the Sox tied the American League record for the longest losing streak ever (21 straight games).
Context: Grifol was brought in to right the ship after manager Tony LaRussa's disastrous stint ended in 2022. Grifol joins general manager Rick Hahn, and executive Kenny Williams, who were fired at the end of last season.
- Sox assistant Grady Sizemore will take over managerial duties for the rest of the season.
Why it matters: For Sox fans, the Grifol firing and historic futility is an acute reminder of how amassing prospects and promising a bright future doesn't always lead to the promised land.
Flashback: Before the 2017 season, the Sox decided to follow the strategy of their North Side rivals and dismantle their team in favor of rebuilding the roster from the top down. It had worked for the Cubs, whose rebuild led to a 2016 World Series win.
- The South Siders traded stars like Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and José Quintana for prospects like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, Yoán Moncada, Blake Rutherford, Michael Kopech, Dane Dunning, Eloy Jiménez and Dylan Cease.
- They used high draft picks on players like Andrew Vaughn, Jake Burger, Gavin Sheets, Zack Collins, Nick Madrigal and Zack Burdi.
- The Sox also signed free agents from Cuba and Central America, including Luis Robert Jr., Norge Vera, Yolbert Sanchez and Yoelqui Céspedes.
Between the lines: The players included the top prospect in all of baseball (Moncada), a surefire flamethrower (Kopech) and a highly anticipated slugger from the Cubs farm system (Jiménez).
Zoom in: By 2019, the Sox were being praised for their shrewd rebuild, setting the table for what some believed would be years of future success. They lost 100 games in 2018, but the arrow was pointing up.
- In the truncated 2020 season, the team made the expanded wild card riding the bats of José Abreu, Tim Anderson and Robert.
- In 2021, they won a weak AL Central.
Yes, but: In 2020 and 2021, they lost in the first round.
- 2021 was the last time the team made the playoffs.
Reality check: Seven years after the overhaul was launched, only Robert, Vaughn, Sheets and Moncada (injured) remain on the big league roster, and the Sox are back to rebuilding.
The latest: General manager Chris Getz was roundly criticized at the MLB trade deadline for not trading some of the above players and not getting enough in return for the players that were dealt.
Zoom out: The Sox are not alone. Many baseball teams try to rebuild their roster with young prospects, only to fail and start over.
The bottom line: The fan base endured several losing seasons for the hope of another World Series run. But recent history proves the White Sox aren't adept at picking managers, developing young players and delivering on their promises, even with new management.
- As the team is on the fast track to be the worst in baseball history, fans just have to hope they can deliver.