spiderman

There's no reason to think they will pay more to sign Harper, is there?

I haven't heard the contract details (if they are even out there yet), but this should simply not happen if the White Sox are serious about becoming a serious player.

Given that this is a "depressed" market and teams like the Yankees, Cubs and Dodgers are not actively involved in these free agents, it would very disapointing if they get outbid by the Padres (in particular). The Phillies are a big market club. They are probably not going to be outbid, but to be outdone by SD would make many question (assuming the offer is close to what is being rumored) the Sox committment to landing a big fish. They may still make a few moves as a reaction to not getting one of these two that will make the team better, but let's be honest. Here's the perception - IF they don't land one of these, the Sox are not major players for premium free agent talent and are even more dependent on the rebuild working within the 2-3 window before it becomes too expensive for them.

This is where I am at. Unless the young talent takes a big step forward at the major league level, this team is likely to show improvement, but still be a below .500 team, perhaps well below.

My gut says this is very reliable. White Sox just need to figure out their lineup now.

Bowden will eventually be right, just like others who have had several reports throughout the winter about the premium free agents.

If the current roster doesn't change, does he change because of minor league talent coming vs. current talent at the major league level? Of course, the big elephant in the room is that he won't have a position 2 years from now he doesn't start performing.

Is it sad that I just don't care anymore if the White sox sign Machado (or Harper, although he seems to be connected to other teams moreso)? Yes, I'd be happy if the Sox sign Machado, but I've stopped checking in like I was in January, and now it's pretty much....just make a decision .

The NBA is so unique that a superstar player or player(s) with the super-teams now popular change a team's fortunes because of their dominance. In baseball, how many great hitters single handily get their teams to the playoffs, even if they do put up massive numbers? I understand the value of pitching in a short series - we've seen an ace go 2-3 times in a 7 game series to win a series. Even in football, the elite QB's, while needed to a championship, do not guarantee a playoff spot with injuries and other weaknesses on a team. The NBA is a league built on dynasties and individual play and the NFL (see the Patriots) are capable of that with an all-time great QB/coach. Baseball has been there with the Yankees, etc.

He needs to DRASTICALLY improve and I don't think he's entitled to the entire season to show this. Didn't he allow the most earned runs and walk the most hitters in MLB last season? Of course, having the opportunity to walk that many batters is a testimony to the rebuilding effort where his development trumped the team's success. However, the White Sox have made it clear that expect the major league team to improve in 2019. I think Giolito needs to perform like a middle of the rotation starter (ERA under 4.00); I don't think a 4.70 ERA with continued struggles on throwing strikes will keep him in the rotation.

Is the market depressed, meaning these guys will be getting less on an per year basis? Perhaps (or probably) that is true. I think it seems somewhat certain that they won't be getting a 10 year deal, etc., but perhaps $30M over a shorter year.

Things change though - the Yankees may not be a bidder, there was hope the Cubs would be, the Padres may be a bidder now..... There isn't a big rush for these guys to sign if there's any chance of a new team entering the market. The White Sox would look pretty stupid if they gave a deadline for Machado to then sign some 2nd rate player. If SD is now a player, that will likely extend this out into early February and maybe beyond. At some point though, the teams/offers will be just that.

Haven't read the column, but if the White Sox are looking at 3-4 moves, don't we know who 3 of them (Harper, Machado and Peterson)? Obviously, they are going to attempt to acquire just one of these players, but I'm assuming Hahn is referring to difference makers, not spring training/spare part roster additions.

These rumors do tend to come from one report, but, I think the Yankees were the favorites going in and teams like the White Sox were just leverage to get the most money. We'll see what happens.

Highly unlikely that the Cubs would sign Harper (a guy that Bryant is best friends with) only to turn around and trade Bryant as a result. Chances of any Bryant trade: 0.001%

There's no reason to sign Moustakas to a multi-year deal. I would question taking on any multi-year deals to older veterans. Continue down the youth movement and be aggressive in signing/trading for premium talent.

I would love a hard salary cap in MLB with a floor (perhaps there would be some "exception" to go under the floor if you are rebuilding, etc.), but, just making things so not sure how close this would be, if every team had to spend $125M and the ceiling was $210M, what would be the negatives? Yankees/Dodgers can still go wild, cap would continue to rise as revenues do and teams like Miami, SD, KC, Pittsburgh are suddenly players for marquee free agents. Right now, the best free agents are typically limited to about a third of the teams and the smaller market teams only compete if they build from their systems and nothing goes wrong. The Cubs are spending $200M+ and are being accused of being cheap by their fans for not spending (so far) this off-season - that's after some pretty expensive free agent moves that haven't worked out. Point is, the Cubs can continue being wrong and still have a top 5 payroll. Imagine being a Pirates fan - you either build 100% correctly through your farm system and hope to compete for 3-4 seasons before trading everyone away.

If the White Sox had no realistic chance of signing one or both, that is pretty much the default position of most analysts. The big market teams (unfortunately, the White Sox operate like a mid-level one), particularly in LA/NY have the advantage to most elite players.

Agreed. If they go down the trading path, which is probably a good bet, they had better trade for someone (or trade/sign) who is here for a minimum of 3 more seasons.

I don't believe that Harper is studying farm systems, he want the biggest deal on the market. However, IF he did care about a team's pipeline of young talent, wouldn't that be a reason to leave Baltimore? Not sure I am understanding how Baltimore having a bad minor league system factors into his decision.

Just seems, if true, they like acquiring the same two positions over and over. If they have to trade anything of value (i.e. prospects), does that really make sense?

If true, the White Sox have an unhealthy obsession with 1B/DH types. The current roster probably has too many of these guys already with Alfonso, Abreu and Palka (DH, but attempting to say he's now a better OF). I'd much rather have the rotating DH in an ideal situation, but it probably doesn't matter much on the current version of the White Sox.

I'd rather give any openings to young pitchers (sort of how the White Sox handled Giolito last season). If they did want to bring in a veteran, I'd rather go after somebody who makes a difference for more than 1 year, but that doesn't make a ton of sense given that Rodon, Lopez, Nova (for 1 season) and Giolito (hopefully) are forming the core of the rotation. It's hard to block guys like Cease/Dunning, etc. for a 1 year James Shields type starter. Giolito will go into next season trying to solidify a future rotation spot, but right now, he's doubtful (or a question mark if being generous). If Covey can earn that #5 job, great. I'd much rather see that than a older veteran.

I'd rather not spend money on some borderline veteran, and just let the younger talent (and maybe a cheaper veteran) battle. There's a very good chance that whomever opens in the 5th spot won't be in that spot by mid-season anyway with some of the higher level prospects.

Is Ottavino the closer for any of the teams (including the White Sox) who sign him?