Bob Nightengale: White Sox are unlikely to fire manager Pedro Grifol until after the season

(670 The Score) The White Sox were expected to struggle in 2024 — but not quite like this. Entering play Wednesday, they sat at an MLB-worst 20-54 and were 26 games back of first place in the AL Central.

Given all the White Sox's issues, second-year manager Pedro Grifol has landed on the hot seat. But USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale doesn't believe the White Sox will fire Grifol until after the season.

“Unless things change, in the offseason, he’ll be in real trouble,” Nightengale said on the Mully & Haugh Show on Wednesday morning. “The thing is now, why change now? I mean, the team stinks, it’s going to get worse because you’re trading these guys. Why subject another manager to it? I would think in the offseason. Then you look around, who do you want? I mean, do you want a Skip Schumaker from Miami? A viable guy on the market. Alex Cora probably wants to go to a winner. But there are going to be some good candidates out there if you decided to make a change. You can’t get those guys now, so you might as well wait until the offseason if you’re going to get somebody to make that change.”

Grifol is 81-155 over two seasons leading the White Sox, who embarked on a significant rebuilding process ahead of this 2024 season led by general manager Chris Getz. While addressing reporters Tuesday evening, Getz sidestepped a question about Grifol’s status as manager.

The White Sox earned a 2-0 win over the Astros on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field. The two teams will play the second game of their series Wednesday evening.