CHICAGO (670 The Score) – White Sox general manager Chris Getz is focused on looking outside the organization for the team’s next manager.
Getz shared that mindset in a media session a few hours after he and the White Sox fired manager Pedro Grifol on Thursday morning amid a nightmare season. The White Sox dismissed Grifol as they sat at 28-89, a mark that put them on pace to set the MLB record for the most losses in a single season.
“It is up to us to move forward and create an environment that works for the present roster and those who will be breaking into the big leagues for the first time,” Getz said. “We need to finish this season with more positives than we have had so far.”
The White Sox named Grady Sizemore their interim manager after he had previously been on their bench as a major league coach, but they plan for their next leader in the dugout to be someone else.
Getz plans to prioritize candidates who are currently “in uniform,” and previous managerial experience is a draw.
"The most important thing in the managerial search is having that person understand where we are right now and where it needs to go,” Getz said. “For me being a first-year general manager and getting this chance is stimulating. I view this as a great opportunity for myself and the organization. I look forward to getting that started. We remain open-minded to all kinds of candidates and all types of resumes. I will not say it's a must (that the candidate has managed before), but that level of experience will be beneficial if the candidate is right. I am excited about this search, and I know there is a long list of worthy candidates.”
Complicating matters in the White Sox’s search for a new manager is the state of their rebuild. They don’t plan to spend significant money on free agents ahead of the 2025 season, though Getz indicated that may be closer than some expect.
"I wouldn't say we are too far from doing that,” Getz said of spending in free agency. “But it isn't going to be right now. There needs to be a maturation to the players in the minor league system first as well as our 26-man and 40-man roster. We will need to find out where our needs are, and they are still evolving. There will be a financial component to improving our major league club. The time is not right now, but I will say we are not too far off from being able to do that. The big decision in front of us is to first find the manager we want to get us where we want to go.”
Getz fired Grifol two days after the White Sox snapped a franchise-worst 21-game losing streak.
"We had some different belief systems and certainly, there was a lack of production overall that went into it,” Getz said. “Part was about how many games we led early and how many we just couldn't finish. There were so many games we were unable to come back and win. There was something that was broken. We know the flaws in this roster, but with that being said, we expected to win more games.”
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.