SonofaRoache

You would front load the contract big time to change his opt out to year 5 instead of year three. Having 5 years of his service is worth it, even if he doesn't return after year 5.

Then we need to offer 375.

That was always the case. I never believed for a second there wasn't interest there from both sides. That is also why I think we seem to be all in on Harper, as we may be able to persuade him to not sign in Philly or SF. None of the blue bloods seem to be THAT interested in Harper at the contract he will get.

We would love for your plan to be in his contract, but he wouldn't like it. Therefore, he would sign with a team that gives him a full opt out after year 3. If you do not want to give a full opt out after year three, you will have to front load his contract big time and give him the opt out after year 5.

Because he is a star and wants the right to leave if it isn't going well. If he likes it here, he won't opt out.

Yes it does. We get him here and for three years. If we handle our business correctly, we will be able to re-sign him longer term. As a fan I love it because it would put pressure on Hahn to succeed.

Well Philly is attracting Harper and lots of other stars go there to play. You tried to sell Philly as a small market and it isn't. Whether you like Philly or not is your business, but it's a large market.

Again we need to stop focusing on the total amount of the contract as opt outs will deem that number meaningless. I agree the difference in salary to us would be marginal, and front loading a contract makes things much easier for us. As well as gives Harper or Manny incentive to opt out and redo.

No and no. If you actually read my posts instead of one mostly in jest you'd know where I'd stand. But you cannot read, so I wouldn't expect that.

He's trying to convince people Philly is a small when it is a top 5 mlb market and top 7 size US city.

Look at our 2007 attendance. If we win, people will come. Harper alone will start it but we must win.

Well of course but my point is Sox fans aren't going to Wrigley to see anyone. Maybe a handful baseball purists will. And Kris Bryant isn't too far off from Harper when he was MVP. Everyone was ducking him off.

They were probably there with a significant other or family member, not to see any Sox players. How many people here have gone to Wrigley to see a Cubs player?

I'm not buying this. Sox fans didn't flock to Wrigley to see Lester or Bryant or Heyward or anyone.

But we aren't a winner yet and that's my point. We are also asking him to take a big leap of faith that it could happen. Whereas Philly is there now. This is also probably the reason most of the GMs feel he is signing in Philly.