Dick Allen

If you are freaking out about risk over years 1,2 or 3, you don't want to sign him for 10 anyways. This, even if he left after 3 years, gives the team instant credibility. Moves up the timeline, takes pressure off your prospects, and sells tickets. To worry that 3 years from now he may say good bye is like a College Basketball Coach not signing a great prospect because he might not be around for 4 years. And if he leaves in 3 years, you're in the same boat as if you didn't sign him anyway. Hahn said he would spend the money. With the Phillies, I could see the problem. It probably takes them out of any Trout discussion. The Sox have zero shot at Trout.

Why? If you sign him long term, the money is tied up. If he opts out after 3, you have money to go get someone else if he leaves. What's the downsidel other than showing your fan base and other teams you mean business? Not signing him means you have to get someone else anyways. There are going to be a lot of players you think are going to be White Sox for a decade, that 3 years from now will be long gone.

I would think the White Sox would include opt outs, but even the one with Belle wasn't a straight opt out. He had to remain in the top 3 highest paid. If the Sox refused he had the opportunity to opt out. Why would the Sox be worried he doesn't like it here when the narrative was get Machado here, he will love it so much, he will take less last year? 3 years with the White Sox, why would Harper ever want to leave? I still think 3 years of Bryce Harper is a lot better than zero.

Supposedly he is also interested in an extension, and seems to be willing to give the Nats some sort of discount.

A premium free agent off the market. Maybe the White Sox will realize they need to pay Harper now. Personally, at this point, this may be the best thing that could happen. If the Sox were to put their eggs in the Arenado basket, that would mean Moncada was a bust at 3B, and would be moving to yet another position. And it's one less option for the team moving forward. Maybe Uncle Jerry will open the purse strings a little bit more.

I believe it was Roger Daltrey who said we won't get fooled again.

Heyman got his overnight email from Boras. His tweets confirm it. Everyone is in. Everyone is bidding huge.

Exactly. And as far as position, hey, if Madrigal is anything like they hope, Moncada was going to wind up at 1B or the OF eventually if they signed Manny. Let Harper have that roll. This is such a no brainer once in a decade, if not more rare, opportunity. Letting it pass and selling what they are trying to sell, is going to be a very difficult sell.

I voted for roll with what you have, unless the price for joc is as low as some speculated earlier. I just don't see it. The guy makes $5 million and put up a 2.7 fWAR and is projected around the same. I think the package the Sox were rumored to send back was more than a little light. It wouldn't be worth giving up something more valuable for him for at least one, if not two non contending years.

It's either he wants no part of the White Sox, or the White Sox were in fantasy land when they determined how much it would take to sign with a 62 win team that hasn't been to the playoffs in 10 seasons, who hasn't had a winning season in 6, who would be counting on him to be their version of Michael Jordan. Put fannies in the seats while not paying him full value.

I hope to God they are in, but to think they are because Nightengale said they aren't is a reach. I'm pretty sure if he said they were, this thread would be hopping like crazy.

It takes 2 to tango, and I can't see Boras playing along, perhaps losing some leverage.

With the owner using the term stupid money, not landing Harper or Machado is a failure that would knock whatever they did to average at best.

Rick Hahn couldn't have been shocked. He said when he went to bed on Monday, he thought the odds were less than 50/50.

Maybe they screwed up the directions and are supposed to be at the other side of the facility.

Yes. They came in second for Logan Morrison last season. I'm surprised Rick hasn't mentioned it.

Constantly mentioning trading with the Cubs as a feather in his cap, is a pretty silly Rick Hahn trait.

Do you really think Scott Boras of all people would keep the Sox on the down low and make sure everyone knows who else is involved? He isn't going to do them any favors. And it isn't like he knows for sure JR would make the best offer. When does that happen? That's about as silly as thinking the White Sox are such the destination, free agents who are supposed to sign record breaking contracts, would accept $50 million less because they so want to play in an empty stadium with no one watching on TV, no one listening on the radio, and the biggest newspaper in town with no beat writer. The White Sox are so insignificant in Chicago. Think what they must be everywhere else. Signing one of these guys would go a long way towards changing that. But the White Sox still require it's done on their terms, so it isn't going to happen.

I think it's sad for the franchise they put their fans through this. Rick Hahn was actually asked at Soxfest if the Sox would go for both. He said it wouldn't make sense financially. Some took that to actually mean, what do you expect him to say, it's obviously a stealth yes. No means yes, yes means yes. People hear what they want to hear. There is no reason to think the Sox are in the middle of this right now. Be excited. Be hopeful. Be ready to be letdown. Again.

What's sad is some actually believe the Sox have a shot here, when the only news is the offer might not be as high as anticipated, and the Dodgers have jumped in. No writer has the Sox bidding now. Even Heyman, Boras's water boy. They had SD in the mix for Machado.

The Sox are telegraphing not going after a 3rd baseman next year by going through with moving Moncada there unless he busts. They wouldn't dare move him again, would they?

There is a lot of weirdness to this offseason. One of the Cubs signees said he had no offers for a couple of months, then one day he had 3 or 4 for the same amount.

I was watching MLBN and Eric Byrnes was talking about free agency. Obviously for the most part, he was a hack as a player, and kind of out there anyway, but he went through it and gave some perspective of what players think. With Harper, training in AZ is a big bonus since he lives in LV. Playing for LA or SF would be ideal. Playing for the Phillies and spending 6 weeks of spring training in FL is not ideal. All things being relatively the same, the Sox would have an advantage over Philadelphia with him. He did say Trout would be the opposite. Philadelphia could be sitting pretty for him.

That's what I said when Machado signed. Give him the same contract he received only 10% higher. Give him the 5 year opt out. If he opts out in 5 years, your team is supposed to be stacked then anyway, re-allocate the money. If they were serious about signing them, this is a discount. Machado was right at projection.

It turns out Scott Boras and JR hammering out the biggest contract in mlb history was just as absurd as we always thought.