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Sorry, mistake, he's only 27, just figured because he's slow and terrible defense he's old.

This years FA market for SP sucks for the white sox. They have no shot at the good ones - Stras + Cole. Bumgarner, Keuchel are NOT who we should be going for (old, not going to be good in AL, waste of money, we will probably sign Keuchel). Wheeler, the one interesting guy, is going to get a massive contract that takes us out and doesn't make sense. We need a SP. We won't get a proper one. That sucks.

Sure as hell more interested in Ozuna compared to N. Castellanos. Ozuna can't be as bad of a defender as Casty, although casty is 27 and Ozuna is 29... hmmm.

This is truly sad for baseball. A deep investigation should occur and there should be punishment. If it's found to be a regularly occurring practice their title should be vacated.

You are that gullible? The White Sox sank last year. They've never had any significant free agent move like the ones we hope for. Their offseason last year was one of the worst offseasons I've ever seen from a franchise in baseball. They'll sign some people this year, it'll likely be something like Castellanos (Old and unbelievably bad at defense), Keuchel (not great and probably on downturn), and some middle pieces that will be overpaid for (i.e. nova, jay, alonso).

Rendon is interesting. He's 29 now, he'll be 30 next year mid-summer. A 5 year deal would be likely very productive. Can't help but feel like Machado was such a perfect piece (he's 27), but that ship has sailed. Rendon is obviously an amazing defender and hitter. Would be a huge get. I'm just not so sure it makes sense having Anderson/Moncada/Madrigal all up here. For as deep as the free agent class is this year, there really is no perfect 'get' for the White Sox unless you consider Grandal it. All the OF'rs have major flaws and all the SP's are either unobtainable (Cole/Stras) or have major flaws. Kinda sucks.

I was going to wait for Harper to officially sign (as I was holding out hope that the White Sox would swope in), but it seems incredibly unlikely that the White Sox will move on Harper. So this ends my White sox fandom. It's been a fun ride SoxTalk! One of the best places to talk baseball on the internet. I'm moving over to be a Padre fan from here on out. I'll spare you from any reasoning as, I'm sure you all are well aware of the reasons. Take care friends, I won't be back to check any replies. Kind regards.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/white-soxs-attempts-to-recruit-machado-may-have-backfired-as-alonso-jay-spoke-highly-of-san-diego/ I've seen the light too...

No problem, I'll refrain from posting further. I will state that I was the only one posting actual Harper news in the last 10-20 posts here.

Prior to my time as a Padre fan, however I'll shoot: We are in a rebuilding phase that is about to commence into greatness. #1 farm system in the majors leads to World series success. We also got burned by some poor FA signings before with the Kemp/Krimbel/Shields fiasco if I recall. In any sense, there's really no defending the White Sox organization and by extension the Bulls.

Hard to move on when there is still the smallest bit of hope that the White Sox sign Harper. All will be forgiven if that is the case.

I am a Padres fan and not a troll. I'm just a tortured soul waiting for the Harper saga to conclude so that I can eliminate the ties to the White sox once and for all (in my heart of hearts I still have no fathomable idea why the White Sox don't sign Harper, but their organization may be the least intelligent in all of baseball).

I've had this user account since 2004. No other accounts. Get over it -- I'm actually posting news in this thread (pads meeting with Harper today, Nats officially OUT). You are just spamming it. I'll be gone as soon as the White Sox 100% officially don't sign Harper.

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/nationals/exclusive-nats-owner-mark-lerner-says-they-havent-heard-bryce-harper-and-scott-boras NATS HAVE MOVED ON FROM HARPER We called this months ago here. But now it truly leaves PADS PHILLIES GIANTS PADRES ARE THE DARK HORSE and I think it may happen.

In terms of money, it's only a 1 year commitment to a heavy payroll for my Pads. 4 year commitment to an average payroll. My padres can afford Harper absolutely... it's just a matter of it not making a lot of sense IMO. But if Preller wants him, he's going to get him because Harp doesn't want to be in Philly or SF.

Don't get me wrong -- I'd love Harper here in SD. But from a net benefit analysis it doesn't make much sense compared to Machado. Machado replaced a bunch of no-names competing for 3b on the Padres. Harper would be taking a spot from Renfroe/Reyes/Margot/Janikowski/Cordero/Myers I mean, there's only 3 spots available in the OF for that group. The net win there is much less and from my analytical point of view -- not worth it. But I'm still rooting for my pad's to get Harper because HELL that is awesome.

SAYS OTHERWISEEEEE This race is down to the Phillies and the Padres and it should end soon and don't be surprised when my Pads land him if Philly won't pay up and instead makes the same mistakes as your White Socks.

lmao, you don't actually believe this, do you? The Padres claim they have interest and they seem to have the budget. As a padre fan, I'm much more concerned about the fact that they have like 6 major league OF'rs already for 3 spots and adding Harper would make it really awkward. I don't think my boys need Harper, but hell -- if they can get him why not.

P.S. I hear my Padres are meeting with Harper TODAY. Prepare to be SHOOK.

Just like how the White Sox had to sign one of them? The Padres are the organization that is run like a shark that smells blood. I'll be gone after Harper signs anyway.. just leaving the hope out that Harper signs with the White Sox but it looks dimmer after each passing moment.

Harper doesn't want to go the Phillies ... I think my Pad's are in the drivers seat here.

Welp, MY Padres have a 'seat' at the table and I think we all know how this will end up. LETS GO FRIARS. Take Harper.

One notion of backlash that I have gotten recently is the: "It's just a game" or "you care way too much." I think that is patently false. The diehards are the ones who have some unshaken loyalty to any franchise. I'm not sure how any reasonable fan can defend the front office of the Bulls and White Sox over the past 10-15 years. I'm changing teams because I won't subject myself to this when I can find a new favorite team and be excited for baseball every night.

The only downside to changing teams is that I've yet to find a site as wonderful as Soxtalk is. For such a shitty franchise, this site is a thing of beauty. Props to all of you.

I've been hovering over these forums the last 24 hours waiting to see if by some miracle the White Sox strike with Bryce Harper, but I'm 99.9% done with the White Sox. I took a lot of time thinking about which franchise I should root for next. I wanted a team in the NL (away from the Sox, fuck them). I prefer a west coast team so I can catch every game (I work til 8pm est and stay up until 2am est so it works). I wanted a team that has a front office that is not afraid to make the team better. Bonus points for a team that I have at least a small connection too. The three teams that ended up for debate where the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays may seem like an odd choice, but they are/were my hometown for 13 years of my life. I have many Rays fans as friends and could go to their games with a 30 minute drive. Ultimately, I decided against the Rays for every bullet point reason I listed -- most importantly -- they don't spend money and I didn't want a White Sox situation part two. Between the Cubs and Padres, it was a tough choice -- I had some connections to the Cubs as I lived right next to Wrigley for a number of years. I don't agree with the philosophy espoused by many Chicago sports fans that it's either one team or the other. I look at that as primitive understanding and outdated line of thinking. I rooted for both Chicago teams in my time. It would be natural to go to the Cubs, but I decided against it as the Padres were too tantalizing of a team and location for me to root for. So, Ron, I suggest checking out the Padres. One of the best stadiums in the big leagues. The best weather in the USA. The team itself is filled with more young talent then even the White Sox while having an owner who is not afraid to pay up for talent (Hosmer, Machado, and even rumored to be IN on Harper). You can always catch their games since they start at 10pm EST. It's a thing of beauty!