Dam8610

Jason Heyward was far less consistent than Machado and never produced a 6 WAR season (Machado has 3 6 WAR seasons in his last 4). If anything, he's defense based Harper-lite.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?! HARPER AND MACHADO TO THE SOX!

Machado is consistently a 6 WAR player, while Harper is consistently a 4.5 WAR player. I'm not saying one is better than the other, WAR is. Basically, I see them as a 6-7 WAR bat with -1.5 to -2.5 defense (Harper) vs. a 4-5 WAR bat with 1-2 WAR defense (Machado). Based on those profiles, I see Machado as the safer bet. YMMV.

The White Sox have kind of been baseball's Redskins recently ("win" the offseason, have a terrible season, repeat).

That doesn't look good, but he was 20.

To me, Harper is hopefully duplicity with Eloy, and I'd much prefer to give that money to the more consistent producer and better overall player (yes I said it and will continue to) in Machado. I don't buy into this whole Harper "star power" nonsense, so it comes down to buying a 6-7 WAR bat with -1.5 to -2.5 WAR defense attached to it or a 4-5 WAR bat with 1-2 WAR defense attached to it, and to me, option 2 (Machado) looks much less risky. So I hope Machado grabs it and leaves the Phillies to overpay Harper $400 million. And for anyone concerned about the year 3 opt out, I don't think any player would opt out of a 3/$135 deal.

Why do people want to give the better player less money? I say throw 10/$375 at both and see which one bites first. Structure: 50-45-45-/-45-45-45-/-40-/-25-20-15 / = opt out

Good, let them sign Harper. I want Machado.

Burn it all.

One outlier season vs. consistent production. I'll take the consistent production every time if I'm betting this much money on it.

But Machado is consistently a 6 WAR player.

You don't think Wong would have at least a chance at beating out Engel?

I'm not saying that's the only move you do, I'm saying it's a move that would potentially help in conjunction with other moves.

I wouldn't be against signing Murphy short term to DH or play 1B if Abreu was traded. Not to move Moncada off 2B, though.

No, Ron, for two reasons. 1) I stated I was being ridiculous. 2) When all of that happens, you'd just back out.

Why not go crazy? Not like I'm going to be right anyway, so here goes: Sign Bryce Harper and Manny Machado to identical 10 year $370 million deals. Sign Michael Brantley for 2 years/$30 million Sign Gio Gonzalez for 2 years/$25 million Sign Drew Pomeranz for 1 year/$10 million Sign Cody Allen for 2 years/$20 million Sign Zach Britton for 2 years/$20 million Trade Jordan Stephens, Jordan Guerrero, and Yolmer Sanchez to Mariners for Mallex Smith and Carlos Santana Trade Jose Abreu to Dodgers for Will Smith

There's no way you're getting that trade from the Mariners. Not even JeDi is that dumb. That's one quality player, one good enough player to not be considered a salary dump, and a salary dump. You'd need to give up something of substance for that.

That would be my preferred outcome.

Keibert Ruiz is a return approaching what the DBacks got for Goldschmidt.

Ron, if you don't see how "the Sox could trade Abreu and get better at 1B" is leagues different than "Abreu should be DFAd", there's no hope for you. And no, I will not ban bet you.

Wasn't Bellinger their best CF last year?

If the Sox acquire Carlos Santana, I want Mallex Smith to come with him and the prospect return to Seattle reduced as a result. Otherwise, get better production over the same time frame for cheaper by signing Nelson Cruz.

I don't disagree with you, but if the Dodgers want him, they aren't going to be able to give up just scraps. Ruiz is probably unrealistic, but C is an organizational position of strength for them, maybe Will Smith could be had. Obviously I'd prefer Ruiz.

At that price, best of luck to he and the Red Sox. May he cost them Chris Sale.

You don't trade him for that. Either they give up something of value, or you let him play out his contract.