FT35

Sox and Phillies are each able to sign Machado and Harper both. If they split and sign 1 each, they will have 250-300 mil (earmarked for the other they didn’t sign) available. Would you all spend that this year on who is left available or would you save it for later??

Very Prophetic--I like it!

No matter how this ends, it’s been great talking baseball with you all. I truly enjoy it!

Yes! But at what point do we start looking at Manny and saying...come on, man, sign the best deal that you have!? If Rick and the boys have put together the best offer they have, then it's time to put it back on Manny and say, sign with the other offer that is keeping you from signing ours! It's not always the Sox who have to give more.

He is free to ask for whatever he wants...but the Sox seem to be slotted right where his true value is. They want him so they will position themselves where his value is to give them the best shot of getting him.

Totally with you! My thoughts have changed a little the last couple days though...I think you still bring him in and would then hope that just the reality of being here and the other greener pasture doors get closed, he can focus on getting settled in and playing for the White Sox for a long time. I think you get a natural buy-in from him at that point. It's only "not his first choice" now...but if he were actually here, I think you'd see the investment on his part take off.

Agree...I think they would pull the trigger--THEN laugh.

Agree...if we land Machado, I think you'll see the focus shift to pitching. The lineup--although not the best, should be better than enough teams to contend and we will keep tweaking that. But I think we're still relying on too many guys who either haven't thrown a MLB pitch or are not sure things. Rodon/Kopech/Lopez/Cease/Dunning/Giolitto?--That looks great from a talent/potential standpoint, but Rodon has a RICH injury history, Kopech is down to his non-pitching arm, Lopez is solid--this year will be a huge year for him to establish himself, Cease/Dunning--never thrown a MLB pitch--and likely won't for a large chunk of that time between now and the estimated 2020 season where we will supposedly be counting on them. Giolitto?? He's been more bust than boom in my opinion. Fortunately, I think if this year is the year that we start to add more long-term pieces to our team, the pressure is off to land an Ace--save those bullets until we are surefire contenders. Looks like the plan is to add through free agency--and if that continues to be the case, the increase in payroll will push the starting pitching acquisition method to the trade route. Bottom line--this 2019 team will have numerous holes. That's no secret. No one is trying to fix EVERYTHING NOW. Even if we land the whale! That's not to say they won't contend, but there's no way they can solve EVERY gap in their roster for this year. I don't think we see the polished product for another year or 2.

He is. But do you think they’re going to let both guys pass without trying? Usually the biggest $/asset exchanges involve the large market teams who can feasibly sustain the RISK of such moves. Those teams give long hard looks at their rosters and oftentimes get creative to pounce on these types of opportunities. Not saying he will resign—just saying I wouldn’t be shocked knowing Dodgers are at least “checking in.” A “mystery name” to throw in the mix.

I know they have been quiet, but I think the Dodgers are the “mystery team” as the outsiders to resign Machado or sign Harper. I think their trade was a big sign they are up to something. Seager will be back, but I still wouldn’t rule Dodgers/Yankees out. Too big...too strong.

Come on, man...let’s not go here. I doubt raBBit is looking for this parallel reference either.

At least he’s keeping the ball on the ground more these days. I hope it carries over to this year if we get him.

I mean if we got Machado + Harper, WE could trade for Trout... Jimenez+Moncada+Kopech+++ Leaves us with an OF of Trout, Harper and Robert—then you slide Madrigal in at 2B... You just couldn’t afford to field any other players, and you’d have to figure out a way to roster a pitcher, but I still like our chances with that big 3!

Right, but in the end, all you can do is put your best foot forward and LISTEN to the player/agent's list of desires and you build trust by showing not promising the willingness to accommodate (without hurting your own organization). You fall back on some negotiation strategies that are built upon reaching mutual agreement and you hope for the best. You can't overlook the fact that Free Agency is a crapshoot. You can't force your will and hardball negotiation is a thing of the past. You are in this together--you share in the risk, and any possible positive outcome that comes of a long-term relationship--together. Don't ever overestimate your bargaining position and don't ever make assumptions that hinder putting your best foot forward. Walking away is an acceptable outcome if you have genuinely put your best foot forward and painted your organization in the best light possible while showcasing basic human respect and decency for the person in each free agent and for the sport.

I just don't see Harper picking Philly over a return to Washington. Also think Washington will lay in front of that truck before they let him go to a division/arch rival team. IF we sign Machado, I think Harper's preferred signing order list would be: 1. Nationals 2. Dodgers 3. White Sox 4. Phillies

Anyone else think the Sox are focusing more on Machado over Harper because they know Boras will wait till Machado signs before he lets Harper sign? I think if we sign Machado, we'll still test the market on Bryce, but our decision makers know that Harper is essentially "locked" till Machado signs because of Boras' games. That's why we aren't hearing as much about the Sox interest in Harper--or at least without mentioning our interest in Machado.

There is a move towards "positionless" baseball...teams like Milwaukee are trying it. In some regards I think different positions shouldn't be difficult for these guys to play--I mean, shoot...they have been playing them all since little league, and they are pros--they should be able to play a position that is literally 20 yards away from their other position. But THEN I see stupid defensive mistakes being made--the nuances of the position being devalued or straight-up missed--outs being missed...all while effecting a player's plate production while they "learn" that new position. It's not as easy as people think it is. But if there was ever a reason and a year to shift people around a little...

Totally! It's brutal! But remember...the marketing target is always the casual fan. Does it draw in people that normally wouldn't be interested? Do more people think about baseball in the winter than without the drama? I really don't like it either, and I am not ready to say that it's an organized agenda coming down from MLB as much as it is the players trying to take advantage of the publicity. But I think MLB is somewhat OK with it because it gets people's attention on baseball-related content--and builds excitement for the new season.

They have the Winter Meetings now and that's pretty much it. The whole "free agent tour" concept is starting to creep in though. NBA is big on it but I don't know of a ton of MLB FA tours that have taken place say previous to the last couple of years. Personally, I think this is a fancy name thrown out to an event formerly known as a "meeting." Personally, I hope they find a more classy way of doing it than the NBA--which has become a huge self-promotion fest that only fuels the perception of a player's arrogance and love for ego stroking.

Kind of going out on a limb a little with this logic, but does anyone think some of this process is intended to create a little buzz for baseball in the dead of winter? The NBA really milks free agency to help bridge the off-season gap. We've got Free Agent tours, billboard campaigns, TV shows to announce decisions, letters written to fans, the back and forth drama, it's turned into reality TV. But you know...that first "LeBron watch"--when he choose to go back to Cleveland, really took the pro-sport spotlight away from baseball and kept the fan engaged and thinking about basketball over the summer. Just wonder if MLB is maybe taking a page from that same book by encouraging the process to drag on long enough to create a little drama to draw people in.

Bingo! I think we just got to the essence of why he hasn't signed yet--and what the hold up is.

I can see that...but if your agent does the dirty work and gets it down to 2 great offers from 2 teams, you'd think at that point, you'd ask the player "your call now."

It might if it's truly down to us and Philly!

I wish they'd stop treating players like they're eBay auctions. Stop the bidding war and ask the guy where he wants to play. You probably get a better version of Manny Machado if he's playing where he wants to be anyway. Maybe he would take the couple million generated by this "squeeze every last drop of $ out of the process" phase to end up in a place where he'll be happy--wherever that might be.

Dunn...smh...