heirdog

According to sources, JR moderately surprised that Bryce wants more money than JR’s limits. But since it isn’t his first rodeo, he is going to allow Bryce to keep his beard and his hair long. Hahn thinks better than even chance Bryce wants something more than facial hair guarantees.

That he was going to be another Fernando Tatis Sr.

Sorry NotHahn but you are NotRight. WhiteSox are more likely to sign Gio or Keuchel than Harper. I think they will sign one of them in the next week. Sox valued Manny more than Harper and they wouldn’t go higher that $250 million. They have no shot at Bryce.

I really want to give him an “A.” He’s a very likeable guy and I feel like the linear reporting structure of a stubborn, octogenarian owner and the nuisance Kenny Williams, who should purely be a video analysis scout, does him no favors. But in the end, he, as professional should know that results matter and if anyone told him differently, they lied to him. His results are atrocious. Win-loss record if abysmal. Draft mantra went from Kenny’s versatile, projectable football players to single tool players that have flaws in said tools. Trade acquisitions have been flawed prospects, save Eloy (hopefully). The era started w a bang when he traded for Avi...and that disaster was a microcosm of his snakebit tenure. Honestly, there is a real possibility that this farm system might be the 2000 farm system of Rauchs, Gary Glovers and Carusos. Maybe a Rowand or Crede comes out of it. But in the end, you convinced a shitty owner to rebuild, you invest $25 million (guaranteed) in dead weight friends and family and you can’t close a $50 million gap ($25 mill really without the dead weight) because you can’t get said shitty owner to drop his ego and realize that if he “loses” the deal he, and the team actually wins. F. Rick’s grade is an F...there are no splitting hairs here. F = fail and that is exactly what he has done. Failed!

He’ll talk about: Jerry’s multiple rodeos and good spirits Yeoman’s work from the marketing staff 1 player not defining the rebuild As a fan, if he had his druthers, he’d have converted on premium free agent So basically we’re all going to need a signature Waffleson hug after it’s done.

Does signing Bryce cost draft pick compensation?

People are blaming Hector Gomez, why not KW too?!?

Harper was the plan all along? Manny at our price to get both but Harper was someone smirking Kenny always wanted!

Agree here. The Sox had their chance to counter yesterday afternoon/ evening when kw, Hahn and jr met w Lozano. They sweetened offer and tried to sell Lozano on 250 + vesting options or whatever. They didn’t get another chance but did have a chance to match/BEAT top offer of 10/300.

Old-school White Sox Front Office: ”Hey Chris, we’re going to give you a 10% raise from the last contract you signed with us because you hit your goals and objectives over the previous 2 seasons. But because you had a lapse in employment with us for 4+ years, we won’t fund your 401k until month 6 and your vacation accrual balances will reset. Sound good?”

Yes and even Kenny said directly in the interview when asked if Sox offer was better...”well, maybe not in base salary...” I’m interpreting that to mean guaranteed (vs options, incentives, swell-opts etc).

So you are saying Lozano is worried about his image/ethics/“word” in negotiations...and on the same hand you are painting those of us that disagree on your premise of blind bids as naive. 👌

https://theathletic.com/827011/2019/02/19/with-machado-to-padres-phillies-say-they-wont-be-pressured-into-a-bryce-harper-deal-now-what/ Subscription only so here is the key part of my “nonsense” (see bolded): By that moment, the inner circle of Phillies decision-makers knew Manny Machado was headed elsewhere. They had known for quite some time. Dan Lozano was in Arizona on Monday night with Padres officials to finalize the richest free-agent contract in professional sports history. Throughout the negotiation process, two sources said, Phillies general manager Matt Klentak was adamant with Lozano: The Phillies would not go to $300 million for Machado. Lozano called again on Tuesday. The Phillies would not counter San Diego. “We had a pretty good idea of where this thing was going,” Klentak said. Hours after reports of Machado’s contract leaked, Klentak summoned reporters to a third-floor conference room at Spectrum Field and added a new phrase to the offseason lexicon that was — until Tuesday — defined by two words. “If the reports are true, then this contract will exceed our valuation,” Klentak said. “Sometimes you have to be willing to walk away.”

Watch his full interview, Kenny says there was a “rumor of a $300 million deal out there”. Kenny, Hahn and JR met w Lozano yesterday evening. Not hard to connect the dots...they were told yesterday and they countered w that 8/250 plus 2 vesting option years to 320-350 or whatever. Phils and Klentak were contacted this morning, according to Phils reports and wouldn’t go to 300 guaranteed either. So “surprise” is more that KW et al tried to call Lozano’s bluff and Manny/Lozano just moved on an took Padres deal. This is textbook overplaying a hand. A shame really because it’s easily argued that Sox better off matching Padres than that unnecessary creative offer that de-risks ages 35 and 36.

Harper will probably get 10/350

If these were the options, then the White Sox are stupid to not just offer 10/300 and secure Manny.

I’m moving to SD to watch Machado and Tatis Jr dammit!

I’m not going to be a part of this thread reaching 257 pages by the time Harper signs....I mean it....I’m leaving here

I can’t take another presser with a clearly sweaty and glassy eyed Rick Hahn (after what was probably a good long cry) talking about failing to convert on Harper.

Please Dick, go handle these negotiations and save those other 3 from themselves.

That’s right. I reacted too quickly hoping to find something that let me support this org...but I’m just mystified how they let this happen?!?

This was set up as an idiot proof free agency for the white Sox and they somehow screwed it up.

and those same friends cost ~$22 million (w Alonso option picked up)...or about half of the difference.

Plan for Fernando Tatis Jr’s free agency in 2026

Whoa, Rosenthal saying White Sox offer could have reached $350 million...shit just guarantee $325 to Harper w potential to reach $375.