Look at Ray Ray Run

Yes, if the Yankees were involved (breaking news, they were involved) for some reason Machado would have gotten more than 300 million and signed earlier. It's amazing, the Dodgers are interested in Rendon, so the argument that they had a 3rd baseman (Turner) so they didn't want to retain Machado was erroneous nonsense. Machado played for the Dodgers and they had zero interest in retaining his services last year. Yet, this year they are interested in Rendon. Hmmmmm, almost seems like the Dodgers had no interest in Machado at that price point. Yankees were supposedly already interested and in the bidding for Machado last year, but they dropped out because it got too expensive for them... but somehow, posters here have made it out to be that if the Yankees were involved, the White Sox never would have been the front runner. I've said this quite a bit recently - as have others - but there's plenty of things to give the White Sox hell about. They have made a lot of mistakes and things have been really frustrating... but to constantly discredit their good moves (Robert, Abreu, Grandal and etc) by making up reasons for why they happened "the Yankees weren't iNvOlVeD! while critiquing them for every failure is just overkill and annoying and over the top. Fact is, the White Sox didn't get Machado, and it had nothing to do with who was involved. The scenario wouldn't have changed if other teams were involved. It's just nauseating reading all these absurd takes about how everything is awful, and the Sox have no chance here and there despite evidence to the contrary. Focus on ridiculing them for things they actually have failed at; don't make excuses to even discredit their successes.

I have no idea why you're posting this when Nightengale's report was immediately walked back as being inaccurate.

Well, they offered him more money so yeah, that would make sense.

This narrative is tired. The Yankees don't magically give the highest offer to every major FA. They lost Robinson Cano to the Mariners for goodness sakes. The Yankees were involved in the Machado sweepstakes - reportedly - and had no interest at that price point.

Willie can rake, but man he makes Castellanos look like Buxton in the OF.

So Heyman is calling BS on a story he put out there himself? Interesting take.

Some of the best bargains of FA the past few years have come later in the off-season. I think it's a smart play, but a risky one to be sure. This market is moving differently though, so it's possible this year doesn't play out like the past couple.

Income tax actually might matter to someone like Lyles at his price point. Texas has none. Texas also may have guaranteed him a starting spot, which was something the Sox maybe couldn't have done for the duration of the contract.

OK, champ. Plenty of Sox fans have posted on this forum and twitter angrily towards Hahn spending time with the media. Sorry that offends you that I pointed that out that I find it weird.

He's actually made a lot of changes in the past few years; consistency has escaped him, but he's been a different pitcher the past two seasons than he was before. Lyles was really rushed to the big leagues, and he's had to adjust on the fly and he's really changed his repertoire in the past two years. His numbers in SD and Milwaukee were fine for a back end stuff and he does generate some swings and misses. I wouldn't be shocked to see him be a decent piece for the Rangers, but he is of course capable of being complete garbage.

See, I'd give Cole that much money. I think he's as safe of a FA SP as you'll ever find on the market. That doesn't mean he doesn't break next year, but I'd give Cole whatever it took to sign him.

I mean, read the forum?

We have to be the only fan base on planet earth who is getting angry at our GM for talking to the media as every other GM has to/does at the winter meetings.

Do you think the "you won't" game works with a MLB GM? Can't hurt to try! You won't, Rick.

How great would it be if the Sox were the mystery team, came in with some absurd offer, and Cole said "nah, i want to stay out west." Man, that would be awesomely hilarious.

Do you think Boras even needs to charge Heyman for the hummers at this point, or do you think Heyman just loves having his balls in his mouth for free?

Every year people ask why these fake insiders exist, and question the point of them... but every year fans link all their tweets and discuss them. I think the attention is what they seek, so best not give it to them.

Yeah, this is why the Dodgers dick him around I think. I imagine he's not thrilled about it. These incentives are nuts. If Maeda thru 200 innings and made 3 starts he'd be paid: 14.275 million. Still really affordable, but a lot more than the Dodgers pay him by dicking him around between the rotation and bullpen. Maeda has about as good of a track record with injuries as Ryu when you consider the work load though.

are you Steve Stone?

The best news to come out of White Sox camp is always no news, or downplayed news. Arrogance and Excitement = Failure Silence and patience = Success At least that's how things have worked for the Sox so far.

There's a person in the world that trusts Jeff Passan over Ken Rosenthal? Learn something everyday.

This was about including other valuable assets from the White Sox side; like Bummer and Stiever. I said if the Sox added Bummer and Stiever, there would need to be money coming back for Bentendi and Price, because Benetendi and Price together don't have a ton of surplus value. This meant I would take both for middling prospects with no money attached, but the Sox should require money if they have to add a Bummer/Stiever combination to make it happen. I never thought the Red Sox should have to throw in 30 million in a trade in which they were not getting a viable return. Edit; Also, I figured it was just a misunderstanding. No biggie.

He did create Carmine - which was his own statistical analysis system with the Red Sox but that was almost 20 years ago. The game has advanced so far beyond statistical analysis; with the advancements of technology. Theo was always behind when it came to pitching analytics - now that technology has paired with analytics, they've become doubly behind. Theo isn't of the same mold of a lot of the investment-type executives that have begun to infiltrate the game. Theo's edge in the draft went away, and his success since then has not been great. His trades when the Cubs were advancing to contention were very very good, but it's hard to say whether Arrieta was luck or not... with all his other outcomes in the pitching market, it doesn't seem like the Cubs did much but just tell Arrieta to throw his best stuff.

Castellanos made a noticeable change last year that appeared to allow him to tap into his raw tools more - that and the change from Comerica. Hes an interesting case as, similar to wheeler, his best years may be ahead of him which isnt typical for a FA.

That's not really how it works. Media time is a part of the game.