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Ha when a rumor actually comes true orit's a player who we could figure it out that's what I call an expected surprise .A trade or signing out of the blue with no rumor attached I call an unexpected surprise.

Quality post. I have often wondered why it isn't illegal or at least against some kind of baseball rule to actually bid against yourself. It's hard to phrase this right. If there is a highest bid why can an agent manipulate the media that creates panic in an otherwise also smart and media savvy MLB front office to up an existing offer. Is it against the law for an agent to just come out and tell the bidding team that they do not have the highest bid when they actually do ? Is it collusion if Hahn calls the Phillies GM and says look the highest we are going is X and if you can beat that he is yours unless he likes us a lot more than you.

But the only things we have heard about since the winter meetings is Ottavino and Machado's visit which is why I think it's one or the other. Still would be fun if it was something we haven't heard anything about. Unexpected surprises are the best.

With the recent post by Morosi about the Sox and Ottavino. I think that could be it. The original interest in Ottavino was a Dec 14 post by Incarcerated Bob who many don't like. But if you just take it at face value it lines up with the 2 weeks ago timeline and coming together quickly narrative based on the recent Morosi post. It could also be Machado signing. CF is a position that can be addressed by a short term fix in a trade that has nothing to do with the whales. I also believe it could be Kikuchi but not that it has to be about him. Still hoping for an announcement before the New Year which would also fit with Buerhle> Wood rumor for after Christmas.

Well if you take the IB tweet as fact with it dated 12/14 and the recent date of 12/27 on the Morosi tweet ., it actually fits with the Buerhle> Wood rumor. Still hoping for some kind of announcement of a signing or trade before the New Year.

Right insignificant money like $10-20M . Damn that sucks that that much money can be insignificant to some people.

Right or even at age 29 with a 3 year opt out.

I'd be shocked , I tell ya , shocked at any one of Harper and Machado leaving money on the table. Health is not guaranteed but a $350M contract is .Agents and the players union both highly recommend taking the most money because of that very reason. There's one reason we are hearing about them leaving money on the table and that is because the east coast based writers and media outlets still cannot wrap their heads around that the mega teams are not likely to offer the most money. The more these writers and networks talk about NY , L.A. and the Cubs the more clicks and the higher the ratings.

Yea the quote didn't really need clarification if anyone who listened to the segment he did on MLB Network actually listened to what he said.

Last thing he said was "All I got" so if that's all he got what else can he offer ? He's not obligated to repeat himself .

Andrew Rozdilsky Jr. AKA.....?

You should not be so modest and introduce yourself as That Soxtalk member who was in sports illustrated and retell the whole story from your perspective. I'm sure many would love to hear it and ask questions,

The thing is there was nothing from any writers or tweeters that something was in the works that came together quickly and would be announced shortly. If I had to make a guess it's either Machado or a relief pitcher, guys we definitely know Hahn is seeking. Trades are more difficult because we probably don't trade any good prospects or anyone of the young guys already up. There are probably 10-12 guys on the current 40 who could be traded but most have very little value.

Yes we all know how you feel about this . You have made it abundantly clear. However sooner or later someone will be telling the truth. Yes there have been joke posts in the recent past and if those members who did the joking around had just followed the rules about using green font then maybe we wouldn't have to be so skeptical of another rumor. Excuse the hell out of those of us to continue to trust some of our long time members. Like many rumors involving player movement everything can fall apart in the blink of an eye so even if nothing happens that doesn't mean it wasn't true at the time it was posted.

Who the heck does what? Who the heck is honest with a potential superstar and tells him we both know we lost 100 games however here are all our good prospects and this is where we see this team going in a very short time with you leading the way ? "As I am sure you have noticed we traded for Yonder and Ivan and Alex Colome. Last year we signed Welington. All these guys are special to you but they also were signed because they are what we need right now. We want you to feel at home here. It may be unorthodox but that's how much we really believe that you are the key to the start of something big. We are all grownups here and we all know nothing is permanent and some of these players may be replaced when our prospects lead us into our window of contention perhaps as early as 2020. Again we want you to feel at home here first and then we expect to win and win for the majority of your years with us.

Yea the only thing that suggests the Cubs and Dodgers might be the favorites is the headline which is click bait. All Heyman said is that the Cubs might be more likely to be taking Harper more seriously than the Dodgers Not once did anyone say either should be considered a favorite.

That would be like us trading Giolito now and Bundy was better and K's slightly more than 1/inning.

Trading anyone in our top 15 prospects is not advisable. I like having so many OF's in the system who are considered good right now. It increases the odds that 1 or 2 become above average players. Just think how good our system would be if we hadn't traded Tatis, Jr. None yet among Fulmer, Giolito Lopez Moncada even Rodon after 5 years can be called good yet. Hopefully Jimenez starts the ball rolling on some of our draft picks and youngsters we traded for being quality pieces for the future. Trading the wrong one would suck. Lets get them to AAA ,see where the team is at and go from there. If we can accomplish any trade giving up Palka ,Delmonico, Nate Jones, maybe a young BP arm like (Vieira, Banuelos, Mederois, Clarkin), Cordell Engel Tilson Leury Garcia or Yolmer Sanchez hey go for it but please do not trade any prospects,

I just don't see Gio as an legitimate option. Fiers is the same age (33) was much better last year than Gio and he resigned with Oakland for 2 yrs $15M Maybe that was the plan all along and Fiers didn't get any better offers . Could've just signed Fiers. 2 years would've been a perfect length of time for a bridge starter. We still need a 1 or 2 starting pitcher and that could come in next years FA class, I'd love Machado but adding Harper and having 2 mega contracts is going to hurt at some point especially if neither opt out. Still need room for arb. years for the young guys who do stick around and the payroll space to add a TOR starter next year, Will also need a bridge OF in the 2-3 year range which is why I mentioned a Starling Marte trade, His contract fits perfectly and he plays CF.

I've been speculating about other possible moves but realistically the pending move could just be Machado signing with us. The 2 weeks ago timeline fits with right before the Machado visit and the possibility of it coming together quickly falls in line with Machado saying "after the new year".

That's exactly what I said if you combine my posts where I also said we might expect a 10-15 game improvement which puts us at 72-77 wins next year.

I like you being hopeful, its what every spring is for,but all 3 doing something they have never done before is pretty unreasonable. I'd be thrilled if Rodon fulfilled his promise finally and Giolito showed he can control his mechanics and if Lopez made a slight improvement in his peripherals. Improvement yes but considerable improvement is unlikely. Get the babies walking instead of standing and falling down .

or 3. I think it takes a miracle to reach .500 but a 10-15 game improvement would be good. 2020 Kopech Cease Dunning .2021 some of position players start arriving unless we get multiple level jumps from guys like Robert and Madrigal this year.

While Machado and a Eloy would make our lineup substantially better you did not mention starting pitching and that will be the Sox Achilles heel in 2019. It could improve substantially when Kopech Cease and Dunning arrive in 2020 but expecting them all to not only succeed but be good right away is pushing the envelop . Rodon has never had a full good season with the Sox and this will be his 5th year. Giolito was terrible last year and Lopez OK and will only be their 2nd years with the Sox. The one and only way to actually be competitive in 2019 would be for all 3 to have break out years and how likely is that ? Nova would also have to be better than expected and we still don't really have a fifth starter unless it's Covey . Even if they all had breakout season they would probably be gassed at the end of the season because Rodon has been injured and Giolto and Lopez still need to build up their innings totals. Even adding Kikuchi doesn't move the needle much because of the highly unlikely event of a bunch of break out years . 2019 is a year to see who can step up among the prospects now in the Majors and also the ones in the minors.

Rant yes quality no. Machado is fully aware of the Sox situation and the purpose his friends play. To argue otherwise is just arguing to argue.Manny wiill not be upset having his friends leave when they are replaced with better players that make the Sox better. He wants to win but while waiting to win he gets to play with family and friends. Besides he'll probably get a chance to opt out anyway even if he's as happy as can be.