JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Anyways, we won’t have an answer to the Machado/Harper debate for several years still but it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

Bryce Harper has been a beast of a hitter dropping bombs since he was 16. Unless he was juicing at 15/16 (which I guess is possible?), he’s been an outstanding hitter his entire life. Take a look at their minor league power numbers and first MLB season home run totals and let me know which set of numbers look suspicious after that.

That’s actually one of the main reasons I think he’s going to fall off. I don’t believe he was clean in Baltimore (along with Davis, Castillo, and several others). Now he got his money so need to risk suspension by getting back on it. I also don’t think his profile, which relies heavily on his defense, will age well. Career 120 wRC+ is good but it’s not $300M ($30M AAV) good if the defense slips at all.

I did up until the Phillies didn’t sign Machado (or stopped pursuing him). Then the writing was on the wall. And no, I believe Harper will age much much better than Machado (esp as an AL player) and be far more productive in the 2021-2026 seasons. Plus, he’s cheaper AAV and far more marketable than Machado. I absolutely wanted the Sox to sign Harper, which makes me despise their pursuit of Machado even more. I’ve said all along that missing on Machado was a blessing in disguise but missing on Harper was a blown opportunity.

The Sox have the 6th lowest payroll in baseball. Using wins as a measure of team performance, I expect them to perform in line with that mark (6th fewest wins in MLB). I’m generally optimistic but I had them at 70-92 this year. If the Sox are still playing sub .500 ball in 2021, I’ll be right in line with you raising the pitchforks to fire Hahn. Until then, I reserve judgement and remain optimistic by the development that the young core has already taken so far this year.

Yes, I am confident he will turn into one of the worst contracts in MLB in a few years. Many here are confident he is a first ballot HOF. What makes my prediction outlandish but the others not?

So people can label him a future first ballot HOF but I can’t predict he’s going to underwhelm his $300M expectations? Got it.

The Sox have the 6th lowest payroll in MLB. They are the exact opposite of serious spenders right now.

The Heyward contract prevented the Cubs from signing Harper this offseason. The Machado contract would have a similar effect on the Sox when their contention window opens imo. Why pay for Machado’s “prime” seasons when the team isn’t contending anyway? What matters is how he produces in 2021-2026, which I believe to be the Sox window. And I have a sneaky suspicion his contract will be deemed a liability by then much like Heyward’s has been the last couple years. Do you ever get tired of complaining about the team you supposedly are a fan of?

Just like Heyward’s contract hasn’t been a liability for Theo and Ricketts?

You didn’t answer my question. I’m assuming you don’t agree that Machado will be a liability of a contract from 2021 thru 2026.

The relievers have a high probability of turning into prospects via trades. Machado is going to turn into an eyesore of a contract within a few years. Which option better serves the rebuild?

And Machado is going to be an overpaid liability by the time the Sox are contending. So what’s your point?

I agree but I was just using the Harper2Sox definition of “dumpster diving.”

Lol. Ok man whatever floats your boat. We shouldn’t be signing high profile free agents yet anyway with how bad this team is, amirite?

You’d only include him if he was sucking. But he’s not so you conveniently left him out. Same with McCann and Colome.

That’s incorrect. He’s guaranteed 2/$18M. $9M AAV same as Alonso and Nova that were included in his list...

It’s called dumpster diving for a reason. No one scores above an F in that course.

After Madrigal, the two guys most often mocked to the Sox pre-draft were India and Singer.

You forgot Herrera, Colome, and McCann. 3/7 so far in dumpster diving.

Thank god we didn’t draft India. The guy has a career 735 OPS and 25 K% in A/A+ at a position that requires power in the big leagues. He’d probably strike out at a near 40% rate in MLB. Selling out for power with a .119 ISO this year.

I don’t expect his bat to offset his eventual decline defensively. I’ve always been suspicious of many guys on that Orioles team, and now that Manny got his money I expect we will see a decline in his offensive performance, likely as soon as this season. Ironic because the Sox tried so hard to get him, the fans were pissed they didn’t, but then will be grateful they missed on him in a few years when the Sox are in the midst of their contention window.

I’m looking forward to a few years from now when Manny Machado shows up on one of those annual “top ten worst contracts in MLB” lists. The irony will be splendid.

Yes and that was a ridiculous overreaction. That’s a really bad club. Probably 110 losses this season. Hard to imagine any scenario that doesn’t result in the Marlins, Orioles, and Royals as the top 3 picks in the 2020 draft.

Man it would suck to be an Orioles fan right now. They are BAD and little hope for turning it around any time soon.