SoxBlanco

Where did news of the Monday meeting come from? Everybody has been saying it here, so I’m sure there was an original source, but I’m not sure what the source was.

Completely hypothetical here, but what if you knew trading for Alonso would increase your chances of signing Machado from a 25% chance to a 75% chance. You pull the trigger and Machado ultimately signs elsewhere. Was it a bad decision to get Alonso?

True, but then you’d have a guy playing SS who is better at 3B and a guy playing 3B who is better at SS (I would assume).

Look, I agree with you. I’m not trying to argue the other side. I’m just trying to present the other side because I don’t think it’s as ridiculous of a question as it might seem. If Machado signs with the Yankees, the Indians’ chances of winning the 2019 World Series go down. If he signs with the Sox, I don’t think their chances change. Of course, this would be a long term deal, and that’s why I ultimately agree with you.

What if they think their best chance to win a World Series is in the next couple years, and Machado to the Yankees would make that tough? They could think Machado to the Sox still won’t make us better than them.

If you are the Indians, would you rather have Machado go to the White Sox or the Yankees?

Can you imagine if Machado signs because of this, which then causes Harper to sign? Alex Call will turn into the greatest prospect/draft pick of all time. (kidding, of course...well, sort of)

My outfield guesses: AAA: Basabe, Eloy, Cordell (also Tilson and Polo) AA: Rutherford, Gonzalez, Booker (also Fisher and Adolfo when he returns) A: Robert, Walker, Dedalow (also Frost)

I guess we’ll just have to sign Machado first to convince Harper to come here.

Or maybe Boras went searching for somebody who had broken one story and offered him money to break a fake story on Harper to the Dodgers (knowing people would believe him because of his previous story)...all in an attempt to get the Sox to increase their offer! Oh my god, that’s it!!! We’re gonna overpay because of it, but at least we will sign him!!!! World Series!!!!!!

I definitely think the Cubs have a chance to sign him, but to say that they are 40,000 times more likely to sign him than the Sox is a bit ridiculous.

But according to him, they are 40,000 times more likely to sign Harper than the Sox.

Can you give me your percentage breakdown on the chances Harper signs with the Cubs, Dodgers, and White Sox?

If you believe it is that unlikely, then which teams do you think have a better chance to sign him?

He's not good defensively? Or most smart teams don't go for that?

I can't really gauge how optimistic the board is sometimes. I guess it depends on the most recent rumor. I'd be interested to see where people stand on this question right now... Gun to your head, do we land at least one of Machado or Harper?

Exactly. And if our prospects are playing well and we makes the playoffs in 2021, he may not want to opt out. I'm doing everything I can to sign him, even if it means an early opt out.

These are the three things that could happen, in order of preference from the White Sox: 1. Sign Harper before SoxFest 2. Sign Harper after SoxFest 3. Don't sign Harper at all The Sox certainly aren't going to be upset if options 1 or 2 happen.

If the options are (A) not signing him at all, and (B) signing him with a 3 year opt out, I'd still rather sign him with the opt out.

Will that backfire if Machado's contract ends up being a lot smaller than expected?

Check out the peavy44 screenshot thread if you haven't. According to his "source", Cubs are trying to offer 20 years, $400 million so that the AAV is only $20 against the luxury tax.

But are the Cubs willing to go 20 years?

And he might not ever become a DH. But the AL gives him that OPPORTUNITY.

You are missing the fact that Chicago is a better city than Philadelphia, and that signing with the Sox gives Harper the opportunity to move to DH later in his career. So really, you didn't miss anything...just two more reasons why it is a no-brainer.