Lillian

OK. then that would validate my point. If they won't be ready to contend until 2021, and Harper could opt out in 2022, you have him for one year of contention. No thanks. Oh sure, if you were giving him to the Sox, I'd take him. However, in any case, it would cost a significant amount of money. Sorry, but 3 years is too soon for an opt out.

It seems a little unfair to ask a team to commit to 10 years, regardless of performance, while the player is only committed to three. At least, 4 to 5 years, on a 10 year deal, seems like a reasonable compromise.

If the window of contention doesn't start until 2020, yes I would prefer not to get involved, with that much uncertainty, for only 2 years of service time, during that window. Having him, but not being able to count on him, might complicate any longer term plan, that the front office could be trying to develop. For example, let's say that someone like Adolfo emerges as a real top prospect, but is blocked by Harper, so the team trades him for some other need. Then Harper leaves and creates a hole, which could have been filled.

If he won't commit to at least 4 years, I personally don't want him. Ideally, opt out after 5 years. I certainly wouldn't fault management, if they lose him to another team's bid, because we wouldn't offer that opt out, at 3 years.

The following are some of the differences in the Machado and Harper "sweepstakes"; 1) At the time the Sox were negotiating with Machado, there were two "whales" available. Now, there is one. 2) One plays third, the other is an outfielder. I understand that this actually favored the pursuit of Machado. 3) One bats right handed, the other left handed, How long has Hahn been trying to acquire a middle of the order LH bat? 4) One has questionable character and fan appeal, the other is a true "marquee" attraction, much better suited to become the face of the franchise 5) Machado's career on base % is .335. Harper's is .388 (more than .50 points higher) 6) The Machado negotiations took place with a considerable amount of transparency, which ultimately proved to have disastrous consequences. It there are currently negotiations with Harper, they are being conducted with secrecy, which would be the more prudent approach, given the circumstances. 7) We have no idea how Mr. Reinsdorf views the two players, or human beings. I suspect that he would be more comfortable with Harper, than baseball's "bad boy". I'm sure that there are many more, but that list should be sufficient to dispel any notion that the two situations are comparable, and that one can equate what happened in the case of Machado, with what should be expected, with Harper. And finally, to reiterate something that I suggested some time ago, Manny's friends may have been brought in, as much to help keep him on the right path, as they were to lure him to the organization.

This seems to have become a mantra, with you. The logic is faulty. I'm surprised that this not apparent. We are talking about two different players and two separate negotiations. We don't know what is transpiring, behind the scenes, however it is a little perplexing that anyone would think that what took place with Machado, precludes any serious pursuit, by the Sox, of Harper.

Vaughn is off to a torrid start. 14 walks, in his first 35 plate appearances, for a .714 OBP. He also has 11 hits, including 3 homers, for a .524 Average and a .1000 SLG. Yikes!!! It looks like the first opponents have decided not to pitch to him, so he is taking his walks. Rutschman isn't far behind. In his first 8 games and 25 AB's: .400 .595 .920 1.515 with 4 homers

Has anyone seen this and posted a link?: https://www.jotcast.com/chat/live-chat-with-tim-dierkes-4666.html

Happy Birthday Mr. Reinsdorf. We Sox fans wish you the best. Now, please tie a ribbon around a certain free agent, with the initials of Happy Birthday. in reverse and give yourself a big birthday present.

This assertion has been made countless times, on this site. However, I'm sorry, but that is not necessarily true. It has always been assumed that Harper would cost more. Moreover, we don't know how much more that Sox originally valued Harper, than they did Machado. And finally, if they have been determined to sign one of these 2 players, there has to be a little more urgency, now that only one remains. They may now value Harper even more than they did originally, given the current state of the fans base.

It's only a "1% chance," if the Sox don't want him. What do you suppose the chances of that are? There are few teams interested. The price is lower than anticipated. The Sox have the money. They should be motivated to "fix" the mess, which they created. Harper doesn't like the idea of going to Philadelphia. So, still think the chance is 1%?

It seems that Moncada is being more aggressive, and not taking the close pitches. A single and a triple, hitting right handed. Very nice to see.

It's interesting and perhaps quite telling that the tone of the comments has become very cautious. After the Machado fiasco, it's understandable that no one wants to go out on a limb, or set themselves up for another disappointment. The most common theme, I'm reading here now is; "I'd be shocked if the Sox signed Harper". Personally, that would not be shocking to me, at all. What would be shocking is that the Sox' front office is not going to make any serious effort to do so. It would also be shocking if Harper had no interest in signing with the Sox. There aren't enough suitors for him to be that picky and it is pretty widely assumed that he's not crazy about going to Philadelphia. We also know that he likes the city of Chicago and the Harpers' good friends, the Bryants, do live there. No, it wouldn't be a shock, if he ends up on the South Side. If Hahn can't close the deal, I'll be disappointed in him and ownership, more than in not having Bryce on the team. However, in any case, not even trying is the only thing that would be really shocking.

I don't understand exactly why that is true. The Sox did offer a big contract. The fact that they missed does not demonstrate that J. R. is primarily concerned about the future direction of free agency. If that were his main concern, they would not have even entered the Machado "sweepstakes".

The market is already almost there. That would only represent a small increase. Moreover, I really think that, at his age, J. R. has less interest in the future of free agency, than in increasing the value of his franchise and winning another championship.

Oh, believe me, I haven't forgotten about Moncada and I know that his strength is hitting from the left side. However, I don't view him as a middle of the order hitter. His greater potential is as a lead off hitter. It's there that he can utilize his speed and good plate discipline. He profiles much better there, than as a slugger. I have always hoped that he would become Rickey Henderson, "incarnate".

Unless you believe that Collins and, or Sheets could really blossom, all of the best potential middle of the order bats in this organization are right handed. Eloy, Robert, Adolfo, even Burger. Acquiring Harper fills that void. Eloy and Bryce together, batting 3RD and "clean up,' would just be HUGE.

Yes, I thought the same thing. The Phillies wouldn't have much recourse, because they couldn't reveal their illegal collusion. For the Sox, it is simply a matter of honoring their word.

If the Sox don't make an effort to get Harper, at these better than anticipated costs, that is the only thing that could explain it. If they promised the Phillies not to pursue Harper, they wouldn't have much choice.

Is that true? Is the contract for Colome really that bad? I was kind of pleased that we acquired him. Am I missing something?

I don't want him either. I was just trying to brace myself for another "stupid" move by this front office.

If the Dodgers were to acquire Harper, which one of Pollock and Pederson are they more likely to try to move? My guess would be Pederson, as he is best suited for a corner OF spot, which belongs to Harper.

As I think about it more, the acquisitions of Jay and Alonso may not have been as counter productive, as we all assume, providing that the Sox intended to sign Harper, all along. Aside from the potential to help bring Machado as well, which failed, they could fit, if Harper is signed and the Sox intended to make a run for the Division, this year. We understand that they are both only going to be on the roster for one year, and they aren't really holding anyone back, except Palka, who would be replaced by Harper, anyway. They would have a decent lineup, with good balance, from both sides of the plate: 3B Moncada. SW CF Jay. LH LF Eloy RH RF Harper LH DH Abreu RH 1B Alonso LH C Castillo RH 2B Sanchez SW SS Anderson RH If Santana is really healthy, he is fine as a middle, or back end of the rotation starter. for one year, until Kopech and Cease going the rotation, next year. The Bullpen has been fixed. The point is that Jay and Alonso could be useful, if they sign Harper. Without him, their presence is indeed counter productive. So, yet one more argument for a scenario, in which they have always intended to pursue Harper, even though they brought in Manny's 305 Club, which did at least serve to conceal, or confuse their true intentions. It's the kind of stealth and 4 D chess, which is probably beyond our front office, but we won't know, until Harper is finally signed, if ever.

Vaughn is right handed and played some third base, I believe in high school. He is an excellent fielding first baseman and has a strong arm. In fact, he was also a pitcher. I asked some time ago, about the feasibility of his switching back to being a third baseman. Any thoughts?

Perhaps, however it still does not explain how, or why, they would not be pursuing Harper. They had to know that he was going to get more than Machado and that it would likely take a record deal. That assumption seemed pretty universally believed, when this process began. Yet, there was Hahn, with all of his bluster and bravado, insisting this was a new era and that they would be aggressively pursuing a big free agent. Sorry, I just don't get it.