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Catching up in this tread, I just realized every single day is the same: People wake up pisssd off that nothing has happened Several people then claim things are quiet because it’s “the calm before the storm” Posters get desperate and start posting blantantly obvious troll posts “it’s probably nothing, but anyone see this [John] tweet?” Sidebars start ensuring about riveting subjects such as model trains, favorite movie in the Pitch Perfect franchise, etc. Posters start getting desperate again and ask the board insiders for any nuggets, eventually one will show up but only provides vague, semi-positive comments like “be patient, things are happening” Caulfield posts a random article without a link and not in a quote box and proceeds to add his own commentary throughout People start getting really pissed about the lack of momentum and say Rick is an incompetent dick and that cheap Jerry should move the franchise to Portland Finally a rumor comes out from a twitter account with a blue check mark, the board completely loses its shit no matter if good or bad If positive, mock lineups are immediately generated (half with Harper); if negative several posters admit defeat & feel compelled to say we must “stay the course” Bob Nightengale tweets out within 30 minutes “sorry, but that’s not true!”; the board calls him a hack and then debates endlessly who planted what Nothing else happens for a few hours, but some posters remain optimistic something will break later that night and make it clear they’re sticking around Finally the day ends with no real news, but one poster makes the bold prediction “tomorrow will be the day” before we all call it quits for the night Wake up the next day and rinse & fucking repeat. I pray to the baseball gods that by the time I catch up there will be some legit rumors, because I honestly can’t take this endless cycle much longer.

Twas the night before Machado, when all through the thread; Not a poster was stirring, they'd all gone to bed. Bob Nightengale with his smoke and the local news stations; Had prepped all us Sox fans for more negotiations. When out of the blue there arose such a clatter. I went straight to my news feed to see what was the matter. I searched for Machado and sorted by top. Excited and nervous to see what would drop. When to my wondering eyes did appear? But $250 million for a term of eight years! With a crafty, young GM so lively and quick; I knew in a moment he must be Saint Rick. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. He spoke not a word but went straight to work. And as the contract was signed, he gave me a smirk. He sprang back to the Rate, to his team gave a whistle. And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight; Merry Machado to all, and to all a good night!

Media in 2018: Red Sox master negotiators in timid market, made a great deal for JD Martinez and acquired him cheap. Smart business! Media in 2019: Absolutely disgusting franchise called the Chicago White Sox, second team in the second city, make ludicrously low offer to Manny. There needs to be a strike. Yankees please make an offer so he doesn't go to such gross unmarketable team.

I say it's consistent with just about everything they've put out over the last two months. Both Olney & Nightengale have been drumming down the idea of the Sox spending some exorbitant (or even FMV) amount of money for Harper/Machado. Has nothing changed since then? Is is the same source providing this detail? The amount of suitors in it for Manny is alarmingly low if you're Lozano. I am just spitballing but this leak is either from Lozano with the intention of inviting teams back in as the price may not be as high as one would think. The other side is this is a Sox leak trying to paint the market for MM/Lozano to be bleak as the team supposedly leading the way has a pretty underwhelming offer. To me, it calls to question what Phili did this last week. Why weren't the Sox pressured to increase their offer as a result of Phili? Did Phili not beat our offer? Did they not extend an offer? In any case, you cannot live and die by individual media reports. They have been a roller coaster. The Sox are all about patience with this process. There has been a "guarded optimism" for a few weeks now and that hasn't changed with the media being all over the place. That doesn't concern me. What concerns me is the fact that we're not Machado's preferred high bidder. The bottom line is, the Sox know they need to convert here (whether we are speaking to Harper or MM).They are willing to spend a lot. I think they'll surprise many. At the same time, and given JR's involvement specifically, they are very much focused on not spending a dollar more than they have to. As it absolutely should be. We will see what Phili drums up and they're the linchpin in the sweepstakes, but it doesn't seem the Sox have been pushed to increase their offer into the mid-higher range of what they're willing to spend. Sox will not bid against themselves.

Nightengale, Merkin, DVS, Garfein, Levine, a few hours from now: Per a source, the White Sox are NOT putting a full court press on for Machado, nor do they have any edge. Their pursuit has been described as a "half court press", or by some, as little as a 2-3 zone.

Just wait until Passan tweets out "The White Sox and Machado has agreed in principle to an 8 year deal" and then Nightengale fires back with "No deal has been reached yet". We will all lose our shit.

ban-able offense imo

I see it's time to dunk on Rick Hahn because of some conflincting tweets, and guess what? I saw Rick Hahn at a grocery store today. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a douche and bother him and ask him about the ongoing Manny Machado negotiations. He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?” I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying. The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter. When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.

Maybe, the real “Whale” is the memories we are all making together

For anyone who is struggling with sanity, keep these points in mind: - Huge contracts take a TON of negotiating. And the degree of contract we're talking about here is almost unprecedented in this sport. - In said negotiations, it is the JOB of agents on one side and billion dollar organizations on the other to work out the terms that are most beneficial to them, regardless of how long that takes. - People involved in these negotiations make a LOT of money because they have negotiating skills the average person doesn't have, and the temperament to let things play out. (i.e., the casual fans who thinks they could be a GM really don't have the stomach for it.) - If either the agent or the braintrust of the organization lets the stress level of a bunch of idiots in a discussion forum affect their decisions and/or timing, they should be fired. - In this day and age social media is ubiquitous and is used as one of many negotiation tools. - Social media is ONLY used as a negotiation tool BECAUSE a significant number of people pay attention to it. If no one paid attention, all the social media agent vs. org BS would eventually evaporate. - This could be done tonight or it could take another month. - It is totally in your power to turn the computer off. Your choice.

Allright, here is my no sauces take that I think many of you might like. **NO SAUCES** 7/$175 may have be an original offer, but it is definitely not what is out there now. Lozano is a businessman and Machado is one of his star clients. If he wants to keep getting big name clients, he needs to show results. Machado is close to signing a MUCH bigger deal, but much less than the 10 year $350 etc. So what can Lozano do to make sure he looks good? Let people know just how much he got people to increase offers. Lozano looks like a bad agent if he took a client worth $350 and only got him $275. But Lozano looks like a great agent if he can say "I took offers from $175 and got them up to $275." So that is my no sauces take for the day. The offers are significantly higher, but Lozano is now trying to control expectations.

Basically someone who deals with the numbers of the contract. Not saying who but there are whispers that this was their plan all along. Supposedly they knew they had a really good grasp on Manny so they went hard at Harper at the beginning and let the Phillies spend more time on Manny and focus less on Harper. Now the Phillies are playing catch up. Possible endgame is Manny, Harper and a pitcher

There really is no need for this. The 50s called and they wanted to pass on that using females as a way to insult men died with them.

I have never realized how big of pussies Sox fans can be. Every neutral piece of information is met by people panicking and expecting the worst.

Lmao only soxtalk would look at this and blame the Sox

How about a reverse jinx. This is not happening tomorrow

It's not that complicated. If the offer(s) aren't compelling the discussions would be over.

He's at Hahn's house, and they are both laughing their asses off at us. "Dude, call Nightengale and tell him you only offered me 5 years." Giggling like a schoolgirl, "That's awesome. Give me the phone."

If Manny Machado (Or Bryce Harper) is a 5 win player for the next 6 years, that is better money than the white sox have spent in the free agent market this decade. If the headline number scares you, you wind up with Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche.

The guy isn't here any more, why are we posting his tweets and making fun of him in a Machado thread? Give me a break. This doesn't help with board quality.

Deadspin should have an article about how much of a sleaze Deadspin is.

By giving them more clicks like this. Just don't follow them, stop sharing their shit. Let them die.

Oh my god, its a Pnoles tweet where he isn't whining about the backup catcher position.

Mike Moustakas confirmed

LOL, they couldn't sign Jesse Chavez, but now are going to sign Harper/Machado. Okay bud, I'll have whatever that cat is smoking.