xSouthsider2

I hope so. Signing Harper could make us quickly forget this embarrassment. That said, I have had enough. No use belaboring this Machado fiasco anymore, so I am logging off. They sign Harper, then Owl B Bak. Otherwise, on to other things.

I have a small hope also. Sox FO and owner screwed up a can't miss, idiot proof signing that pretty much fell into their lap. They are the laughing stock of baseball and by association have made Sox fans face laughing at also. Sox could fix this by turning around and just paying whatever it takes to sign Harper. Do I think they will? No. I think Reinsdorf only thinks money and profit. Winning? LOL.

I live about 350 miles away, so going to a game is a big deal. But I had mlbtv to keep up with my Sox. I showed my displeasure today by canceling the subscription to mlbtv. The woman that took the call actually asked "because of the White Sox?" so I was obviously not the first. Still, Reinsdorf gets his head out and signs Harper I will re subscribe AND come to some games. I know, tough talk because I know the cheapskate will not spend the money.

Basabe's "broken hamate bone" occurred during batting practice. Come on. Batting practice? And they are saying during surgery the "hamate bone will be removed". I would think he "needs" the hamate bone? Are we jinxed to stay in mediocrity forever? Our crack front office and "loyal" big spending owner screw up an idiot proof free agency opportunity and our players get broken bones in batting practice?

Best response I have see to this fiasco. There really is NO freaking way the Sox FO could have messed this up you would think. It was pretty much handed to them and they screwed it up. Unbelievable.

I know it is not reality, but if it were my decision, I would release Alonso and Jay. We do NOT need them around all year to keep reminding us of this fiasco.

I think you missed my point, bud. I am wondering if he plans to dog it now that he has the "guaranteed" money. He has stated he is not "Charlie hustle". He still would have had the "guaranteed" $280 million(injuries or not) if what the Sox are saying is true about their offer. My thought is Machado maybe has no plans of going all out to make All Star Games or get any awards to earn more than $280 million.

Sorry for my negative posts since this was announced today. I just really want to see another Sox winner. I am pissed that we did not sign Machado. BUT....I will try a positive post that maybe will make some fans less pissed. Now that I have thought this out, I feel a little better(I am still pissed). They are saying Machado took the "guaranteed $300 million" instead of the "potential" of $350 million if he met incentives like ASG's and such, but a less than $300 million "guarantee" from the Sox. Maybe, just maybe, Machado knows that he is not a "Charlie hustle type of guy" and will dog it the next few years and NOT perform? Just a thought.

I agree. I will take back the negatives I have posted about the FO because of this if they sign Harper. I just cannot help being let down with the Machado fiasco. If the Sox are not lying and did make and effort and came up short, then sign Harper to prove it and pay whatever it takes. We need this. Harper's lefty bat would fit more than Machado in my opinion. Yes, we have OF depth(Basabe's injury does not help), but we could always trade from that depth. Sox, NEED Harper. Do I think the Sox will do it? No. Hope they prove me wrong.

I won't speak for anyone else, so I will just say "me" here... Not sure who is being laughed at more nationally? The Sox ownership and front office? Or "me" as a Sox fan believing this ownership and front office that they would spend and sign a premium free agent?

That is what he said... "ISN'T". What he MEANT, though, is, "yeah baby, we will lie to you again about going for premium talent and we will come up short again", but in the mean time, please buy tickets and jerseys and hot dogs at the park so Jerry can pocket MORE money for his grand kids.

It's Reinsdorf. Hahn's hands were tied by the cheapest owner in sports. He probably WANTS nobody to come to the park so he has reason to sell the team and enjoy the PROFITS till the novelty runs off and then sell. Until they sign a premier FA that is what I believe and anyone that wants to jump all over me for not being "loyal" go ahead. Yes, I am pissed!

I just read some of the recent posts. Sure enough, there are people calling those of us that are pissed off "not a true fan". Give me a break. We were lied to. That is the bottom line. All these months we hear that "the status quo has changed for the Sox" as far as spending. Then they come in only to bargain basement hunt and San Diego comes in and WINS the bid at $300 million? I have been a fan since the 50's. We have mostly sucked the last 60 some years with a few high points like 2005 and 1959 and 1983. Second does not cut it. If you are one of those that like all the losing and accept the lies we have just seen come from Reinsdorf's front office, then you go ahead and be happy. But don't call me "not a true fan" for being completely turned off by the events of today.

FYI....Anyone with a subscription to MLBTV, you have until March 1 before your subscription "automatically renews". I just called and CANCELLED my subscription. When I called the lady evens said to me "Is it because of the White Sox", so I am pretty sure I was not the first to cancel. If Reinsdorf reverses his CHEAP course and somehow signs Harper, then I will reinstate my subscription. Otherwise NOT ONE CENT from me to support this untruthful owner. No jerseys, no TV, no tickets from me. This is not 30 years ago with limited entertainment available. There are plenty of other ways to spend my $ if all I get from the Sox FO is LIES.

Thanks for mentioning MLBTV. I can't get MLB Extra Innings because my cable company either is too cheap to provide it or Reinsdorf is asking too much. I thought my MLBTV had already automatically re-upped. I will now check to see if I can still cancel. I will say it again... Reinsdorf: Sign Harper now regardless of the cost or you will not get one penny of Sox support from me. Yes, I am a fan and always will be, but as long as that FO continues to lie to us and go CHEAP, they get nothing from me. There are plenty of other ways to spend my money. I will not give any to this CHEAP owner if he does not sign Harper.

We were USED!! Reinsdorf never was serious unless he could have got a "bargain" at $175 million. If he is not the CHEAPEST owner in sports, someone enlighten me on who is? And I was actually thinking of buying tickets? What a joke. I would have took them back. I wonder if Reinsdorf just WANTS the park to be empty so he can move the team, bask in the profits when the "novelty" is there and then sell the team at a profit. I don't know about the rest of you, but my feeling he BETTER sign Harper now regardless of the cost. Otherwise I am out. And you can all spare me the "if you were a real fan" crap. I have been a fan since the 50's, suffered thru all these years of coming up short, and now this? Sign Harper, Reinsdorf.

As have most of you, I have had plenty of "Sox facing elimination" over the years. I don't feel like the Sox are "eliminated" from signing a whale. Far from it. After our vaunted front office has signed or traded for all of Manny's friends/relatives like Alonso, Jay, Colome, Castillo, Herrera and "been to the table" and this months long "pursuit" I really cannot believe they would leave themselves up to the ridicule they would receive if they come up empty. They know that. They know any credibility they have now would be gone forever if they fail. It is up to Reinsdorf. Time to put up or get out of Dodge.

I have enjoyed monitoring this site during this saga. I don't post often, but I do like hearing the opinions of other Sox fans like me. When I do post, I enjoy the interaction with anyone that cared to respond. From what I am seeing here and also other sites, it looks like Harper is going to Philly. It would have been nice to get both, but it would really not be realistic long term when it came time to add more players and/or KEEP the young stars we hope the prospects develop into. BUT, if we do not get Machado now I am with those fans posting that they would be fed up. Not enough to stop being a fan of the team, but I would NEVER trust the front office or ownership again. EVERYTHING has lined up for them to sign Machado. There will NEVER be another chance like this. If they screw this up, it tells me they could NEVER put a winning team together. I am optimistic that we will sign Machado and soon. If it does not happen Reinsdorf should consider selling.

Nothing on www.mlbtraderumors.com about Harper even getting on base with the Phillies, much less "rounding third". Giants are signing Cameron Maybin, though.

Hey Tony. If there is a "garbage post", YOU are the one who posted it. Someone run over your cat? I come on this site and enjoy reading comments from other Sox fans and I find your "garbage" response. There was nothing wrong with my post. Baseball is a game for the fans, INCLUDING the children. What is wrong with my asking just how much money is too much? Yes, I want Machado or Harper to sign with my team. Yes, I want it to happen now. What is wrong with that? You have a nice day and go bully someone else.

Well said. I remember the previous strikes. My son was devastated. Kids just want to watch baseball. This greed of these two players is holding up the signing of a lot of lesser players. What will happen? No one will blame the whales. The union will want to strike to make up for the slow free agent signings not only of the whales, but also the lesser players. Who will suffer? The fans, and the kids, AGAIN. Greed. Plain greed. Who could spend $250 million? But, noooooo….hold out for $300 million. Make going to a game so expensive for a family no one will be able to. Yes, the owners are rich. They don't care about me or the kids. Just the bottom line. BUT, they are running a business. They want to pay as little as possible. Isn't there some sensible middle ground?

Yankees offer would be higher AAV.

I hope this does not offend anyone because I mean no offense. There are some loyal and dedicated and knowledgeable Sox fans here. I like to think of myself as the same. I want Machado and/or Harper on the Sox at least as much as anyone on this site. But, I am getting turned off by the greed of these players. How much money do they need? Do they have to string this thing out all this time like this just to milk out a few more million? Could they even spend $250 MILLION, if that is what the Sox offer is? At this point I would rather they go sign in Japan and the Sox just play the young guys. At least the young guys want to be here.

Unless Cashman has been trolling all of baseball and planning all along to jump in and steal Machado, I would take this with a grain of salt. New York does not really need Machado. Signing him would be a luxury, and would put them way over the luxury tax. Sure, anything can happen. But until it does worrying about it won't accomplish much. My feeling on this has developed into if we sign Machado, fine. If not and he is so greedy that he will wait until the season starts or later to sign just to squeeze a few more million out of us, then let him go to Japan.

I worked for an insurance company in IT for over 20 years. Primary insurance companies usually do not keep all the risk of a policy. They almost always spread out a large risk via "reinsurance". There are numerous reinsurance companies all over the world. A large risk like $300 mil would actually be spread out to many different reinsurance companies with each company taking small pieces, sometimes only 1% or less. The primary company pays the reinsurance some of the premium they take in on the initial policy. The original premium depends on the size of the risk. If the Sox would decide to only "insure" half the $300 mil, then the premium would be less than if they decided to insure the whole thing. The premium can be in the millions, depending on the risk. Yes, the chance of the player getting hurt so bad is small, but with so much money on the line, even a small chance needs to be insured so the future of the team is not put in jeopardy.