GM Chris Getz "understands the speculation" surrounding White Sox manager Pedro Grifol

A.J. Pierzynski and White Sox general manager Chris Getz have reacted to a USA Today report Sunday that the former Sox catcher and current Fox broadcaster would be a candidate to replace manager Pedro Grifol if the Sox fire Grifol before next season.

Grifol, who’s now 88-182 in two seasons after the Sox’ 8-5 loss to the Royals on Monday night — their club-record 15th straight defeat — has a year left on his contract, but the record speaks for itself.

Pierzynski, 47, who was in Chicago last week to play golf and work the Sox’ game against the Mariners on Saturday, said he hasn’t talked with anyone from the Sox about the job.

“Would I take the managerial job? I would love to interview for it or have the opportunity to try to fix the organization, because it’s not good right now,” Pierzynski said Monday on “Foul Territory,” the live-streamed show he co-hosts. “But this is interesting to me that this kind of came out of nowhere. But they have a manager.”

It’s known that Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf would have a significant say in who the next manager will be.

Pierzynski, who hasn’t managed at any level, has been outspokenly critical of the Sox and Getz at times. He no longer has the Sox ambassador role he once held.

“I quite honestly haven’t paid too much attention to it,” Getz said Monday. “I understand the speculation considering the state of our major-league club at the moment. Right now, we are focused on the trade deadline, and Pedro is focused on winning a game [Monday night].

“So, rumors are rumors. It sounds like names have been thrown out there, which it’s pure speculation. Nothing more than that. I’m sure those won’t slow down. But I’d like to think we are both professional enough that we just focus on what we have to do that day to either help the short-term or long-term health of the Chicago White Sox.”

Grifol, meanwhile, trudges forward with a historic losing streak — and with an even thinner roster after Monday’s multiplayer trade. He vowed “not to put my head down” as the Sox “start building this thing from the ground up.”

“[But] all these losses are gut punches,” he said after the latest defeat.

Reinforcements

After trading pitchers Erick Fedde and Michael Kopech and outfielder/slugger Tommy Pham, the Sox recalled right-hander Touki Toussaint, left-hander Sammy Peralta and outfielder Dominic Fletcher from Triple-A Charlotte. Right-hander Davis Martin will move to the starting rotation.

Another blown save

Luis Robert Jr. broke out of a 1-for-23 slump with three hits against the Royals, including a double, and Andrew Vaughn hit his first homer since July 2 to give the Sox a 5-2 lead.

But Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez hit back-to-back homers in the eighth against reliever Steven Wilson, and Bobby Witt Jr. (13-for-16 in his last four games against the Sox) hit a grand slam against John Brebbia (0-6), giving the Royals an 8-5 lead. It was the Sox’ 27th blown save.

Starter Chris Flexen, a potential trade candidate in the hours before the deadline Tuesday, allowed nine hits and two runs over six innings without walking a batter.

“It’s a tough one to swallow, to battle that hard all the way through and it kind of just slips away at the end,” Flexen said. “You can’t make it up, either. It’s a tough stretch.”