White Sox GM Chris Getz has a lot to judge, including players, young players and managers

Chris Getz has his hands full. The trade deadline is approaching and he is the general manager of the worst team in baseball.

There’s a lot to evaluate, including the evaluation of second-year White Sox manager Pedro Grifol, who presided over a 101-loss season and this one in which the Sox entered their game against the Astros on Tuesday with a 19-54 record.

Speaking publicly for the first time in three and a half weeks, Getz touched on a number of topics, including Grifol’s status for the remainder of the season. He answered this topic in general terms, making neither an endorsement nor an accusation.

“Pedro and I still talk regularly and we’re trying to put our players in the best position possible to be successful not only this year but for years to come,” Getz said. “So there’s a lot of work to be done, whether it’s with our major league team or with our front office to make progress. I know there’s a lot of speculation about who’s going to play what role in the years to come and really it’s about being there every day and figuring out how we can put our players in the best position possible.”

Grifol was hired ahead of the 2023 season by general manager Rick Hahn, who was fired last August. Getz was the assistant GM and was involved in the interview process. He knew Grifol from his time with the Royals. When asked how the manager should be evaluated, Getz pointed to the progress of the players.

“Obviously playing together as a team is a very important aspect, but if we really get the best out of our players, from every position and every spot on the pitching staff, we’ll be in a good position to win a lot of games,” he said.

With a winning percentage of .260 entering Tuesday, the Sox are close to the performance of the 1962 Mets (.250), who lost more games than any other team in history (40-120). The Sox also have an attractive pool of available players – perhaps the largest in the major leagues – that rival teams would be happy to take advantage of.

Although Getz said there is a “long list” of Sox players who have performed well, some have not lived up to expectations. That’s baseball, Getz said.

“But you show up the next day and keep fighting to get better,” Getz said. “And we certainly believe in a lot of the players we have here and we work together and try to find ways to get better.”

Grifol said he and Getz would talk about the farm system, the team and “what we want to look like at the end of the year.”

“There are some really good things happening (in the minor leagues) and you have to balance that with what’s happening here,” Grifol said. “When it fits together, how it fits together, what are the elements.”

When the Sox will be competitive again remains to be seen. Who will take over management when and if that happens is also unknown.

“It’s difficult for me to put a precise timeline on it,” Getz said. “These things are certainly fluid. There are players who might need a little longer to be ready to be productive in the major leagues. Injuries can happen. You always have to keep your finger on it or your pulse, so to speak, to be able to adjust accordingly.”

“I don’t think it would be appropriate or accurate enough to give a date when we feel ready to compete in the division. Right now, we’re focused on getting these guys acclimated to the major leagues and setting them up well for major league success.”

At least for now, this is the task of Grifol and its employees.