CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Are you howling into the wind as usual ?Where was it said anyone thought the team could compete in 2019 ? That is not the prevailing opinion.

They know that . They are just being Dicks. The guys the Sox brought in so far are all ex 2017 Dominican Republic team mates not ex Orioles (so far). Welington Castillo was both. If Machado signs with the Sox that probably won't even shut them up as it will be" it was all about the money not those ex WBC team mates and Alonso" as the reason he signed. But everyone else will know it was a combination of the money and making him feel at home here.

Don't be naive. You also have to make him feel welcome and wanted. Every little thing you can do to entice perhaps one of the most highly regarded FA of the decade helps. Of course the money has to be there too but if the money is all fairly equal then I am fine with the guys we got connected to him so far.It's not like they are long term pieces but a year or 2 of playing with people close to you is a good thing. That you can spin it otherwise its just nonsensical contrarian BS that you are known for.

Great ,Dick Allen makes a snide remark about the Orioles and now that's whats considered relevant when I clearly stated there it's mostly all ex team mates from the WBC in 2017. I did mention Adam Jones and Britton and the Sox are still looking for relief pitching so Britton seems are a decent choice. Jones probably not. Not exactly loading up .

You have to admit that almost everyone the Sox have added this off season plus Castillo from last season has some connection to Machado. I am not privy to how good their relationships are besides Alonso and Castillo. Maybe Hahn and company did their due diligence ,as they should, and discovered Colome and Nova were also close to him. If that is the case those guys serve dual purposes, as an inning eater starting pitcher and a needed decent bullpen arm besides the connection to Machado. I think it's incredibly naive to think that Hahn was not aware of this when he acquired these guys. Also the majority of them are Dominicans like Machado who played with him in the WBC not ex Oriole team mates. If indeed Machado does sign with the Sox I can safely say without hesitation that Hahn's efforts to make him feel at home and welcome were well rewarded. Castillo was the only ex Oriole team mate but also played with Machado on the WBC team.

He does seem to be the most logical choice of Manny Mates who also fits a need. Jones might not cost a lot but still not a CF any more. Would be OK in left or right but probably means no dice on Bryce. Starling Marte would be interesting. He's getting to the age (30) and salary $10M where the Pirates usually start looking around for a replacement .Good defensively pretty fast good offense. Would be decent short term OF . Guessing he would play CF . His contract looks like this : 2019: $10 million • 2020: $12.5 million club option ($2 million buyout) • 2021: $13.5 million club option ($2 million buyout) Theoretically he could be used for 1 , 2 , or 3 years . That really seems ideal when seeing how long it takes some of our OF prospects to emerge. Of course a much cheaper option than Harper and would most likely mean we're out on him once Machado is signed, which is probably the prudent move anyway. No idea what the Pirates would want for him but leaves a nice chunk of change on the payroll to sign a whale pitcher next year or do anything.

Copied and pasted from Endgame thread I'm really starting to think the Sox get Machado. Look at all the things they have done to make him aware how much they want him. 1. Signed Welington Castillo 2. Tried to trade for him last year. Probably an underwhelming offer but it could be the idea was for the Sox to express early interest in him and just put it out there . 3. Traded for Colome a team mate of Machado on the 2017 Dominican Republic WBC team. 4. Traded for Ivan Nova another team mate of Machado's on the DR team. 5. Traded for Yonder Alonso , Machado's brother in law. So who else is still out there who might make Machado happy? There's Adam Jones and Zach Britton. Nelson Cruz ex Oriole and DR team mate but not a fit any longer but the Sox did show interest in him supposedly before they got Alonso. Sox also expressed interest in Familia, another ex DR team mate So now there's the latest rumor that something started 2 weeks ago that came together quickly recently. Would anyone really be surprised if it was Adam Jones or Britton or a trade for Starling Marte another DR team mate of Machado ? My original guess was Grandal before I did a deeper dive into his ex team mates from the Orioles and the DR 2017 WBC team in the Harper/Machado thread where that rumor originated. But I wasn't really sold on my own idea. That post is in that thread. It could be something that doesn't pan out while putting the finishing touches on it. It could just be dotting the I's and crossing the T's on Machado or a false rumor. But I think we have thrown some good names out there . Lots of speculation it could also be Ottavino.

I'm just going to copy and paste things I have already said in the 2 other threads with Macahado's name on it. Yasmani Grandal because we are cornering the market on players whose names start with Y and Cubans ,He's also very close to Alonso . Would be so much fun if Alonso got us Grandal and Machado. If that happened I'd pick up his 2nd year right away. BTW I don't really believe this. When everyone was believing it I said not gonna happen because of the lost pick draft and Castillo being a Manny bud wasn't going to be knocked out of the starting catchers gig. But I gotta admit it's a fun thought.

Doubtful in my eyes. With 2 years left he is sure to command a kings ransom and that would include some of the best Sox prospects which they will not move. Marlins are in no hurry unless they get exactly what they want. You know Eloy, Cease and Robert or 2 of those 3 will be what the Marlins ask. After those 3 only Madrigal ,Rutherford, Dunning and the injured Kopech are the only one in the top 100 and all of them have a lot yet still to prove. Fangraphs gave some top 100 love to Collins, Adolfo and Basabe but I'm not even sure I'm looking at the right list since its about prospect valuations and all 3 are head of Cease and Dunning who are 95 and 96 which seems kind of strange. But again all 3 still have a lot to prove.

I got a White Sox 2018 off season rumor mill book including tweets, newspaper articles,trades and all posts on Soxtalk.com . It's longer than War and Peace and the price includes the follow up book that will have the same thing from Xmas day 2018 to opening day 2019. It's title is : Die Hards with a Vengeance.

We were never linked to Fiers either and they are the same age. Fiers WAR was 3.7 last year in the league with the DH while Gio G. was 1.8 in the NL . Fiers was non tendered but resigned with Oakland for 2 years for about $7.5 M /yr. So why go after Gio when maybe Fiers was better ? So my bigger question is regarding the rumor you mentioned. I know you already stated that's all you know but do you get the sense it has nothing to do with Machado or it's another player ? What you did mention seems the fit the Machado statement that "after the new year" he will make up his mind.

My original guess was Grandal before I did a deeper dive into his ex team mates from the Orioles and the DR 2017 WBC team in the Harper/Machado thread where that rumor originated. But I wasn't really sold on my own idea. That post is in that thread. It could be something that doesn't pan out while putting the finishing touches on it. It could just be dotting the I's and crossing the T's on Machado or a false rumor. But I think we have thrown some good names out there . Lots of speculation it could also be Ottavino.

I've been in California for 35+ years but yes Greek town in Chicago is still there and not that far from Guaranteed Rate Field if I recall. Don't hit the Ouzo too much .

He does seem to be the most logical choice of Manny Mates who also fits a need. Jones might not cost a lot but still not a CF any more. Would be OK in left or right but probably means no dice on Bryce. Starling Marte would be interesting. He's getting to the age (30) and salary $10M where the Pirates usually start looking around for a replacement .Good defensively pretty fast good offense. Would be decent short term OF . Guessing he would play CF . His contract looks like this : 2019: $10 million • 2020: $12.5 million club option ($2 million buyout) • 2021: $13.5 million club option ($2 million buyout) Theoretically he could be used for 1 , 2 , or 3 years . That really seems ideal when seeing how long it takes some of our OF prospects to emerge. Of course a much cheaper option than Harper and would most likely mean we're out on him once Machado is signed, which is probably the prudent move anyway. No idea what the Pirates would want for him but leaves a nice chunk of change on the payroll to sign a whale pitcher next year or do anything.

It's in the Harper/Machado thread from one of our long time posters Buerhle>Wood. These are his 2 posts on it. Sox have a move in place. I dont know what it is, but they have one. Guessing it will be announced after Christmas. #sources There was something that's been in the works for two weeks and escalated very quickly this past weekend. All I got. Oh and Merry Christmas to you too. Opa !

I posted some other possible move in the Machado thread. Like I said I don't really think it's Grandal but I also think it doesn't mean you don't believe in Collins and Zavala, To me its just hedging your bets. Zavala and Collin's still need AB's in the minors and between the 2 of them it's possible they can learn under Grandal after Castillo is gone . The McCann signing also factors against me really thinking its Grandal but McCann wouldn't be much of an obstacle. Maybe they both have good years in the minors and they become trade bait.Surely we know some of the minor league guys will be traded.

I'm really starting to think the Sox get Machado. Look at all the things they have done to make him aware how much they want him. 1. Signed Welington Castillo 2. Tried to trade for him last year. Probably an underwhelming offer but it could be the idea was for the Sox to express early interest in him and just put it out there . 3. Traded for Colome a team mate of Machado on the 2017 Dominican Republic WBC team. 4. Traded for Ivan Nova another team mate of Machado's on the DR team. 5. Traded for Yonder Alonso , Machado's brother in law. So who else is still out there who might make Machado happy? There's Adam Jones and Zach Britton. Nelson Cruz ex Oriole and DR team mate but not a fit any longer but the Sox did show interest in him supposedly before they got Alonso. Sox also expressed interest in Familia, another ex DR team mate So now there's the latest rumor that something started 2 weeks ago that came together quickly recently. Would anyone really be surprised if it was Adam Jones or Britton or a trade for Starling Marte another DR team mate of Machado ?

Oh that's interesting . You might have something there. Puts us back in the Japanese market too. Eminor would be tickled pink. He's probably in high demand though and the Dodgers could get him instead of Kluber.

Yasmani Grandal because we are cornering the market on players whose names start with Y and Cubans ,He's also very close to Alonso . Would be so much fun if Alonso got us Grandal and Machado. If that happened I'd pick up his 2nd year right away. BTW I don't really believe this. When everyone was believing it I said not gonna happen because of the lost pick draft and Castillo being a Manny bud wasn't going to be knocked out of the starting catchers gig. But I gotta admit it's a fun thought.

Maroon 5 this year.

And we have heard the same things about the Yankees and Machado and the Phillies and Machado and the Dodgers about Harper and how the wifes might prefer one team over the other and on and on and on. Just sit back relax and strap it down and keep your hands inside the ride at all times.

Sorry it's all just poking a little fun at how quickly you went from one thing to completely changing your mind. I mean it was like slightly less than 3 hrs you gave all these different opinions. I'm not sure how the narrative changed all that much in 3 hours. I know you also posted a series of tweets but when you consider so many people in the twitter verse you are going to have all kinds of possibilities popping up. Besides it wasn't research it was more like me thinking "wait didn't he just say the complete opposite a few pages ago" ? The Dragnet/LAPD thing just kind of popped into my head since it's the LA Dodgers. I was hoping that would make it seem a little more lighthearted rather than mean spirited. Sorry if I bruised your ego. Merry Christmas . I really do think you are a quality poster and I only noticed because I take your opinions seriously. I also envy your screen name . I wish I had the foresight to pick a short recognizable screen name all those years ago when I joined.instead of my 8 syllable goofy name. Maybe something like Fortitude or Rock Lobster.

Some times it's weird to be older than most on here because I came up with something that's old but reminds me of this series of posts by fathom. So who remembers Dragnet the old radio and TV Show about the Los Angeles PD ? If you do here goes. "Ladies and gentlemen: the story you are about to hear is true. Only the names haven't been changed to protect the innocent." Let the Dragnet theme music play in your head while reading or think of Dan Aykroyd's parody of Sgt. Joe Friday. Friday 1:35 PM Fathom says "incredibly likely Bryce is going to the Dodgers". 1:43 PM Fathom assumes the Dodgers get Harper but also could trade for Kluber and Realmuto Not sure if this post was sarcasm or not but any way.. 1:52 PM Fathom mentions 2 other players Dodgers could go after . In 17 minutes he has Harper going to LA and possibly 4 other guys . Fathom is stealthy covering all bases . 1:58 PM Fathom agrees with the poster Chicago White Sox and agrees with him that this trade doesn't mean Harper goes to the Dodgers 3:11 PM Approximately 90 minutes after saying it's" incredibly likely Bryce goes to the Dodgers" he does an about face and declares "I don't think the Dodgers go after Harper". Still thinking Pollock and Realmuto... and Kluber ... and LeMahieu... 4:15 PM a little more than an hour after saying he "don't think the Dodgers go after Harper" he thinks they should go all in on Harper and... Kluber. No mention of Realmuto... and Pollock.... and LeMahieu... 4:26 PM Fathom issues this definitive statement "It's either Harper or Pollock !!! Fathom think you covered your ass enough ? No wonder you're right so many times. You cover just about every possibility. Fade to black , roll credits over Dragnet theme music.

I know I have brought that up in past post(s) . The CBA expires Dec.1, 2021. We could be very good by then , should be, if we hook a whale.

Yea most fans think that. I know i DO after the new year should mean shortly after the new year. 1st week if not the 1st couple days.