JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Either Jay or Moncada, a good “problem” to have. Both potential 350+ OBP guys.

I’d be fine with that as well. Move Moncada down in the lineup then.

My thought is that there is less pressure hitting in the #2 hole than leadoff as well (easier to let a pro like Jay take it now than a still very young Moncada). At least that’s how I felt when I played. I always much preferred the #2 hole.

It’s quite possible that Jay has a higher OBP than Moncada this season.

Jay (L) Moncada (S) Harper (L) Machado (R) Abreu (R) Jimenez (R) Alonso (L) Castillo (R) Anderson (R) Looks pretty solid, especially if Jay can recapture his 2017 form and 370+ OBP.

Which would still be a better offer than the Nationals reported previous offer, especially if multiple opt outs included.

Seems desperate I know but what's the harm in it from the WS perspective? At least gives their competitors something to think about and whether or not to call the agents' bluff.

So other bidders don't see the White Sox as a viable threat and keep their offers down? 7 years much easier to beat than 10+

Almost 6 years straight. But yea they had a hell of a run until the early 2000s when the bottom fell out. Since 2003, they’ve only broken 2MM total attendance 4 times (and in most cases just barely). Worse than the Sox even, who have 7 such occurrences over the same span. Quite the contrast from their prior 10 seasons after The Jake opened.

You want to talk about eroding fanbases, take a look at Cleveland over the past two decades. That’s an ugly picture. Averaged less than 20k in their World Series season, barely over 25k the following and back down to under 24k last year despite their third consecutive division title.

No need to consider that scenario. They’re signing Harper.

Well said and completely agree

I guess only time will tell! Personally I want nothing to do with the guy at the price he is expected to command from a team like the Sox. I can understand why others would be willing to give him ~$42MM AAV but not me.

Career high in HR, RBI, AVG, OBP, SLG and 146 OPS+ last year even after a bit of drop in production following the mid season trade. His previous OPS+ high of 132 was back in 2015. Not sure how last year wouldn’t be considered a career year.

I’m always skeptical of guys that have career years prior to FA. I’m also skeptical of guys that are expected to be leaders of a rebuild that have publicly admitted they don’t bust ass. Maybe I’m old school, but to me this guy has all the makings of a clubhouse cancer if he joins a team with a bunch of young guys still trying to figure out what it means to be big leaguers, losing 85+ games for a couple more years, and didn’t really want to be here in the first place (but decided the stupid money was too much to pass up).