Look at Ray Ray Run

I mean, the Wheeler report wasnt exactly wrong - the sox offered the most so I will give a pass there. Still not sure how he got a scoop this big before some big time national writers but, I'll give the benefit of the doubt until this is proven otherwise.

Many fans who are as disappointed as the organization will point to Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strasburg as the next starting options. But the White Sox aren’t necessarily looking for a pitcher for the top of their rotation, or one in their projected financial stratosphere as much as finding a veteran to fit with Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, Dylan Cease and the return of a healthy Michael Kopech. I'm not angry about the wheeler thing, and I am glad they're going to continue their pursuits and shore up the roster. It was an OK piece by merkin but that paragraph above is a joke. The logic for the Sox not looking for the best is just awful. Just call it what it is; their owner won't spend that kind of money on a pitcher, period.

Not sure they're fucked. Madison Bumgarner is not my favorite FA, but he'd be an incredibly massive upgrade over what they have.

Wait, they didnt have the best offer? Last year everyone said endlessly that the best offer was the most guaranteed money. Now this year, they do that and people still say they didnt make the best offer. Some mental gymnastics taking place here.

The minimum required value LOL? They offered more money than every other team in baseball. So the Sox minimum value was more than every other team in the league. This is a pointless conversation; you're just bitter to be bitter. There's no basis for your anger, and the White Sox did what they said but didn't get the player. Shit happens. Have a good one.

Please, tell me what the White Sox did wrong here. The guy signed before the Winter Meetings and you're acting like they drug this out like Machado.

So name a price; again, I'd love to hear how that conversation goes between an agent and a FO person. Costs the Phillies 118 but for you guys, 130-135. You in?

But what about if we OFFERED HIM 200 MILLION!!

Um... hmmm They implied they weren't going to be outbid. They weren't outbid. That's what putting up means. You can't make a decision for someone, sorry. Amazing how people can't grasp this simple concept. You were one of the main people screaming they just need to offer the most money last off-season; now they do, and you still b**** because they didn't pay enough of some "fiancee" tax that you knew nothing about. Maybe Wheeler wouldn't have even taken 150 million from the Sox. You honestly have no idea. Do you think an agent can call and tell a team... well, your bid is best but he doesn't really want to play with you guys because he prefers the east coast. Can you offer more and we'll think about it... lol

Yeah, I am inspired that for the first time in my 32 years on this planet the White Sox said they would not be outbid for a high end target, and they weren't. You can get angry that the White Sox couldn't convince Wheeler's wife/fiancee to pick Chicago, I'll be happy that the organization finally fucking put up when they said they would.

So you think that the agent came back and said, you have the highest offer but for you to get Wheeler you need to actually spend even more? How do you think an organization would view that phone call?

You should evaluate almost everyone's (pitchers) career based on bWAR; fWAR is better for projections, bWAR is better for evaluating actual results. All that matters for a career is actual results, not projectable outcomes.

So they need to offer a Rangers to A-Rod contract to make you happy? People blaming the organization for this have lost their mind. To scare everyone away? No, to make sure Wheeler knew they were serious. This place is comical sometimes; "OFFER THE MOST MONEY." They do... "WHY DIDN'T YOU OFFER MORE?!!" It's a joke.

Why are you so obsessed with Rick Hahn selling his team as a destination? Is he supposed to get up and say, "we hope we can sign some guys, but we're nervous that people don't want to play here." A high ranking executive officer thinks highly of his organization; what lunacy!

Why? Again with this E-Bay, buy-it-now, auction stuff. The Sox came out with a big offer, yet people are still critical and said it should have been bigger? No one presents their absolute top offer in any negotiation at the start; that would be terrible negotiating.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz So people are stupid for trusting the report on why Wheeler made the decision, and you're a genius for drawing your own conclusions that insinuate the White Sox are cheap failures again. Got it.

Yeah, it's honestly just being miserable and angry and hate filled regardless and for no reason. They call the Sox incompetent for not offering the most. Then they offer the most and they're incompetent for not wastefully offering more than the "most." If the guy doesn't want to come play for you when you offer the most money, then F him and move on.

They should function like a well run organization; not like a desperate teenage girl seeking attention in anyway possible. If an agent calls and says we have 118 on the table, can you beat it.. they'd be absolutely insane and dumb to say "140!"

What?

You have people blaming the Sox for not just giving Wheeler an actual 20 million compared to every other offer solely because that's what his wife wants; nothing to do with his production or talent.

Again, you pay tax based on the city you are playing in for that game; not based on where you live/play full time. The calculation is much more advanced than this and would vary year to year. You can bet that taxes do not wipe out the difference and it's certainly not the way you are calculating it.

So what should they have done Dick? Offer 20 million more than everyone else because the guys wife wants you to? The White Sox offered the most money in FA; that is the ONLY thing a team can control that truly matters. Period, end of story. The Sox were rightfully laughed at for how they managed Machado - you can't laugh at them here too Dick.

LOL everyone laughs at the Sox left and right when they put effort into their presentations and signing friends and family... everyone says, JUST OFFER THE MOST MONEY! Now they do that, and people are mad at the Sox for not selling themselves well enough and not being creative enough. Enough. They offered the most. They lost out. It's not the teams fault and blaming them is just being angry to be angry. Good on the Sox for FINALLY offering the most money when they said they would. That should be the takeaway here. The Sox shouldn't pay 10 million extra just because of some guys wife; jfc.

I mean, the guy offered the most money. That's all you can do. For ONCE the White Sox implied they would not be outbid on a player and they actually weren't. Despite missing out, that really is a step in the right direction and a positive takeaway from this. It leads to more optimism.

I mean, the guy likes the NL, he's familiar with the division and it's close to his family. The union wants guys taking the biggest offer, but I don't think this was an anti-White Sox thing. If the Reds offered 118 and the Sox 120 I doubt he picks the Reds but who knows.