Why woeful White Sox may not have bottomed out

The Chicago White Sox's recent form — 24 losses in their past 30 games — has them flirting with record-breaking levels of losing. 

Their current record, 18-52, has them on pace for a 120-loss season, which would tie the MLB record of 120 losses set by the 1962 Mets in their inaugural season.

They're also drawing perilously close to eclipsing Connie Mack's 1916 Philadelphia Athletics' .235  winning percentage, the worst in the modern era dating to 1901.

With 92 games left, Chicago could still climb back from the edge of this abyss. 

Yet any optimism for a second-half boost in form must be tempered by the reality that the trade deadline is July 30, and with it will come a further depletion of an already woefully undermanned roster.

Chicago GM Chris Getz has been clear since taking over his role last August that every player is available for the right price. 

ESPN's Jeff Passan reaffirmed that earlier in the month, reporting there "are no sacred cows" and everyone on the roster, including OF Luis Robert Jr. and starting pitcher Garrett Crochet, is available.

With this season lost, the White Sox are expected to be among the biggest sellers at the trade deadline.

Even if they don't field an attractive enough offer to part with Robert Jr., who's under contract through the 2027 season on a team-friendly deal, or MLB strikeout co-leader Crochet, who has two years of arbitration remaining after this season, they seem certain to part with SS Paul DeJong, pitchers Mike Clevinger (assuming he is healthy), Erick Fedde, Tim Hill and Michael Kopech and OF Tommy Pham.

Don't expect Getz to wait until the trade deadline to start making moves. The exodus of talent should begin in the next couple of weeks. 

With MLB's 20th-ranked farm system, the White Sox don't have an abundance of young talent waiting in the wings to steer them to a better fate.

For a team that started 3-22 and recently lost 14 consecutive games, it still appears the worst is yet to come.