Chicago White Sox

Sure, but the $199M wasn’t their luxury tax payroll so you can’t really jump to any of these conclusions.

You’re correct, I apologize for it coming off as fact. My point is there is zero reason to believe Machado’s agent will drag this out until February.

Sure, but the Yankees & Phillies aren’t going to wait around forever. Can you provide your source for why Machado won’t sign until after the SuperBowl?

No, Machado is signing by mid January, his agent doesn’t play the same games Boras does.

I don’t think that adjusted salary is for luxury tax purposes. The adjustments appear to prorate for acquisitions (partial seasons) and/or cash received in trades.

Machado will sign in the first couple weeks of January.

I think this pretty much guarantees we get both of them.

Are you asking what benefits are?

That loyalty goes both ways though as evident by Hahn & KW still being around despite a decade of poor results. And maybe these guys feel a sense of loyalty to Jerry because of that. Also, I’m not sure leaving is so easy when you’re talking about a grand total of 30 to 60 GM / President type roles, especially if you feel comfortable where you’re at and don’t have to move your family.

What has Incarcerated Bob ever gotten right to make us think he’d be privy to this information? I thought he was generally known to be full of shit.

I think there is reason to believe it’s much harder in a Reinsdorf lead organization. For example, when KW finally fired Duane Shaffer it was after 35 years with the club. And let’s be honest, his track record with first round was pretty damn bad. Unfortunately, Jerry’s unwavering loyalty makes it that much harder to create an environment of accountability.

Downs was the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 draft and a legit prospect. When you’re still rebuilding, you don’t trade a guy like that for a bunch of one year rentals. A year from now Downs could see his stock jump significantly and be part of a trade for a much more impactful piece. I just don’t get it from the Reds perspective.

You didn’t address my point. Heyward has five years left on his deal, why in the world would we add a guy with that much control who is no longer good? You can question the timing of our OF prospects if you want to, but there are numerous other ways to address that issue that are better fits than Heyward. And worst of all, you’ve just created a fan revolt by taking an albstross contract off your rival’s hands so they can land one of the most popular players in the games. I’m not trying to be mean, but the idea is absolute insanity.

What are you guys referring to?

What has he been accurate with?

100% agree. If the Sox are prepared to spend, it really seems like we can land these guys.

This would be fantastic news if true.

Yup, definitely need to add a 1 to 2 win OF to a long multi-year contract when seven our top 15 prospects are OFs.

I would stop watching White Sox baseball until Jerry dies and KW & Hahn were rightfully fired for such an atrocious trade.

Lol...is that you Theo?

I’d need Schwarber or Contreras as a starting point along with Happ or Almora to take Heyward. The latter two are not good enough to be headliners in a trade $100M albatross. My question is how does that make the Cubs better?

He’s had three straight bad seasons, hard to say it psychological at this point.

I don’t think I’m phrasing my question right, but I’m asking when has a team used young players or prospects to get another team to take on a significantly bad contract. Almost all the examples I can think are either fairly short-term or involved lots of cash / dead payroll coming back.

Is Heyward still considered a premier defender? I’m not suggesting he isn’t good anymore, but it seems he’s not the elite defender he once was.

That doesn’t really save much money in the short-term though and nowhere near enough to add Harper.