iamshack

QUOTE (bmags @ Jan 5, 2018 -> 08:40 AM) Soria's 2019 is a team option I believe, so no real reason to even count on the books. I was counting Soria’s obligation of $10m and forecasting Avilan’s final arb year at like $3.7m. Just a guess but probably reasonable. Edit: With the cash we received it is actually more like $13m.

Can we change the title to reflect the proper amount of cash we are receiving back? Sorry, it’s bugging me. Not sure how anyone can complain about netting two relievers for well-below market rate, for a guy that was blocked by Yoan Moncada. I get that some people want to be devil’s advocates, and others like to constantly troll the entire site, but any reasoned analysis of this deal shows that this was an outstanding trade for the White Sox to make. Even if Soria just bombs...you essentially paid $16m or so and Jake Peter for a quality LOOGY we control for two years. We have the money to spend. More likely scenario, we add two reasonably solid bp arms, allowing these kids to actually get a little taste of winning, and have options at the trade deadline should someone actually be willing to move a prospect we like. There was almost no conceivable reason to not make this trade if you are the White Sox.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Jan 4, 2018 -> 08:08 PM) $1m from KC and 3m from LA. I think it’s actually $2m from LA.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 3, 2018 -> 04:42 PM) Live sports is the problem for us. My wife is a big college football fan, especially UT. We can get to a couple of the home games, but the away games are a problem. They have their own network, right?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 3, 2018 -> 01:29 PM) Yeah, I'm kind of embarrassed to ever admit how much our bill is now. The few channels I do watch are only on their biggest package, I need some a la carte options. I can't even cut HBO/Showtime and all of that because it's "free" with the other channels I look for. I just find talking to them about it painful. And online they only let you add service, not remove service of course. I did this about 4 months ago after getting fed up with DirecTV’s customer service. I invested in a new router and modem, bumped up our internet speed, bought some Apple TVs, and a few HD digital antennas. Initial investment of about $750. We’ve settled into Sling (orange and blue + NFL RedZone) HBO Now, Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube and MLB at-bat. Ends up costing about $80/mo for the programning. Internet is $88. Granted, I no longer have NFL Sunday Ticket, but I get everything else I need + much more, and I save about $100-125 mo. Investment will be recouped after 6-7 months essentially. I probably could shave off HBO Now for most of the year....we don’t even really watch that. Sling’s quality can suck from time to time, but I chose its over DirecTV Now because they had NFL RedZone and DTV did not. Otherwise, everything works pretty well after a getting-used to period. I now need to figure out a way to get Root sports, since they broadcast the VGK games.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 2, 2018 -> 05:20 PM) Given that priority 1 is Trubisky I have to think they'll go offense. So if you were to hire an offensive-minded young coach, then to me, the bigger hire is your d-coordinator than your o-coordinator. If you can get DeFillipo or LeFluer or Nagy or McDaniels, and then someone who knows what the hell they are doing with the 3-4 but with a little bit more experience, to me, that is the ideal move.

I am also on the DeFillipo train, but also have some interest in LeFleur and the two Pats coordinators.

QUOTE (KagakuOtoko @ Jan 1, 2018 -> 04:13 PM) I know the market is volatile but crypto is the way to go. You get your payouts in 48 hours and then you can deposit straight into your account in whatever currency you want. I heard bookmaker takes a few weeks for checks, but I only cashed out via bitcoin. Wow, you are crazy ?

I’m getting VGK season tix next year. I’m sold.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 19, 2017 -> 03:35 PM) That's what I meant. I do feel bad he got hurt, but I think suing the White Sox is obnoxious. I really wonder if it being padded would have mattered, and if the box wasn't there and his knee was able to slide through the opening between the rail and the wall, if he may have suffered an even more gruesome injury. Oh! I jumped to conclusions and didn’t even see you said you’d be dismissed! I think it’s a pretty clear case unless they told him the box was there.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 19, 2017 -> 03:29 PM) 6 days after the incident "I saw the wall," Fowler said. "It got to me a little quicker than I wanted it to. I'm always a guy that's going to try and do everything I can to make the play. I got to it too aggressively. Low wall." Sorry dude. It is the risk you take.like running into the ivy covered Bricks at Wrigley. If it's a jury trial and I have jury duty, I will be dismissed. And Fowler’s lawyers would strike you

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 17, 2017 -> 03:00 PM) The White Sox know that they have zero chance at winning a bidding war for Manny Machado on the open market. No one else will say it, but I will. Sure they will be "competitive", and "make an impressive" offer, and maybe even be the 2nd highest bidder. They will even give the "bigger contract offered in the history of the franchise". But they won't be the top bidder, and they know it. This is a calculated gamble that if they get Machado here for a season, maybe they won't have to be the highest bidder anymore, much like they have seen with countless other players who came back to the White Sox for less money over the years. It is absolutely a gamble, but one the Sox seem to feel they have to make to have a chance at bringing one of the big boys to the White Sox. The fact we have to go back something like 25 years to talk about the last time the Sox signed a contract of this magnitude isn't lost on this franchise, and their actions now flat out tell me that they know they won't be offering the biggest deal... otherwise they wouldn't be looking at sending guys out to bring Machado here for a year early. Go back and forth about whether it is worth it or not, and how dumb it is to do this a year early, but Rick Hahn is 100% tipping the White Sox view of themselves on the free agent market by being a leading offer for Manny Machado. Despite what people hope, the White Sox actions here are telling completely different. I don’t disagree with your reasoning regarding the end result, but I don’t think it’s the money. I think they’re just concerned they can’t win even with the money.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 17, 2017 -> 02:43 PM) They need to have the most money at their disposal. Paying him $17 million for a useless season accomplishes nothing. And if they aren't prepared to be the high bidder, any talk of acquiring him should stop. This will be an historic contract. It isn't going to be discounted. These guys have egos, and Machado will have more money than he ever needs at a fraction of what he will be paid. He wants his name up there. No one is suggesting it should be discounted. It’s likely that he will get a range of offers that are generally in the same ballpark. I suspect he will then choose from those teams based on other factors. We need to be competitive in those other factors as well.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 17, 2017 -> 02:40 PM) Because Baltimore can’t afford to pay him market after blowing their wad on Chris Davis. Why is this so difficult? That, and they are a horrible organization

QUOTE (soxforlife05 @ Dec 17, 2017 -> 02:25 PM) I don't understand why we are making this idiotic decision. Just offer Machado the most amount of money next offseason. Do you know how competitive this will be? Where have you folks been living where you think the Sox are going to compete with some of the premier teams in the league which will also be making significant offers? The Sox will need something besides money to differentiate themselves from organizations that have won more recently or other big market teams. It’s not as simple as just relying on money, unless of course you are willing to just blow everyone out of the water, which to be honest, might be more damaging to the organization than moving a few pieces to acquire him now.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 05:24 AM) Because they are willing to trade assets to get him here to "see the culture", believing that it will trump money. Just remember, his agent got Albert Pujols out of STL, which shocked the world. There are a lot of nice places to play MLB. Money is what talks. If they are prepared to offer him the most money, it makes no sense to trade assets for him now. Not trump money; compliment the money.

QUOTE (Tony @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 05:02 AM) So what are you comfortable with the Sox trading? Who is off limits? I wouldn’t move Moncada/Kopech/Eloy/Robert/Hansen/Collins. I could probably stomach losing Cease or Dunning. Gio and Lopez are tough.

I dunno guys. I’m just confused as to why so many of you think it would be such a foregone conclusion to sign this guy cold in FA.

QUOTE (Flash Tizzle @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 04:26 AM) Not worth trading anythingbof value to build comfort. What if he doesn't like it here? Is it just a shoulder shrug and, oh well atleast we tried? Manny Machado here is a step forward, but let's not act like it's the missing piece to contention. We're still a few years away. Agreed on the second part, but he’s the piece that gets this thing going. He’s the John Lester. He adds credibility, attracts other FAs, etc.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 04:19 AM) All I know is a guy who loved playing here and was beloved by fans, Paulie Konerko, checked out the open market. Why wouldn't Machado? It is going to happen anyway. I am a season ticket holder and prefer to attend games the Sox win. Machado, especially if he goes back to SS, has a chance to be the best player in baseball. So that would be good for me. Hahn was quoted as saying this was the tough part of the rebuild, and patience was the guy. They are doing the total opposite now. Obviously their dream was to add Machado. Keep the talent, and pay him more later. That is the patient thing to do. It is ridiculous to think he is giving them a discount. Why do you think they believe he will give them a discount?

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 04:06 AM) But nobody knows what that market value is, not Machado, his agent, nor Harper or his agent. Do you know how you determine that market value? Competition. It he has held out this long, it makes zero sense to forgo the open market and sign a deal you hope is the most money. I mean you are right...you can’t know until the offers come in, but it isn’t like there are no cues to go off of. Again, even if we let him go to FA, our money is still green too, you know. It might be more comforting for the guy to know he’ll be in an organization that he likes AND be insanely wealthy instead of just one of those two things.

QUOTE (bmags @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 04:08 AM) You know who just did a lot to differentiate themselves in a marketplace? The mariners with ohtani. Shiotinbfg ourselves in the foot really badly here. Yeah, that’s the only chance you have when you are competing against some of the other attractive organizations though. I agree that risks need to be calculated, but would you prefer they not even try?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 03:42 AM) According to the Athletic article they can have one of Giolito, Kopech but not both. This is pretty insane if it happens. I really don't know why they believe having him play there willl get him signed , and not lessens their chances. Money talks. If they think he will love,Ricky Renteria so much he will accept a lowball offer, they need to be replaced. If you are going to make,us,sit through a rebuild, follow.theough, and come up with an offer next winter. If they do this and it fails, heads should roll. I think they have every intention of paying him commensurate with his market value. I just think they want a leg up in the competition, or more ideally, to avoid the competition entirely.

I’m not sure what exactly to believe, but I would suspect the most plausible scenario is the Os are trying to leverage the White Sox to get a better arm from St Louis.

QUOTE (Tony @ Dec 13, 2017 -> 10:31 PM) That's the thing. It's not. The Sox have a shot to acquire him in 11 months. And if they are so confident they can sign him to a long extension now, they should absolutely be in the bidding in late 2018. Again, you continue to ignore what is in plain sight.