Dick Allen

It really doesn't have to be this way. Patrick Corbin signed quickly for a lot of money. Chances are if he were still out there, he would not get what he was hoping. If Boras and Lozano got serious in November and December and said, it's final offer time, the numbers wouldn't be much different than they will be if they do it now. In fact, they may even have been better because teams may have spent at least some of what they planned to offer.

What were Darvish's pre-Cubs offers? And how many months was he sitting on the Cubs offer? JD Martinez signed for less than half of what "insiders" say the Sox offered Machado.

If they are being offered the second or third highest contract of all time, both in total amount and AAV, and they really wanted to be White Sox, they would be White Sox right now, not holding out for some miracle. It's already way more money than they will ever spend.

It would be hard to argue with you. If the White Sox are offering the most money, and they want to play here, it would seem something other than waiting would have happened by now.

Their only hope is to win the Big 10 Tournament.

Well, it says here they are still in contact with Manny's rep. They aren't negotiating. Don't want to be told Manny made his choice.... https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-still-in-for-machado-harper/c-301405234

No it's not.

He has, and I have enjoyed his posts. But this winter he has taken on some sort of insider role, even calling people out for being silly. Yet, this is the silliest thing in Soxtalk history. Dan Lozano is not going to deliver Bryce Harper to the White Sox.

He responded to me. Why can't I respond back? I know we all want the Sox to sign both, and anyone who comes up with a scenerio in which they will, no matter how silly, and impossible to believe, needs to be believed. But there is no way a player agent is going to be in on a scheme to suppress another player's contract.

He'll tell you he can't tell you, just wait for Passan to post something. And then when Passan posts something, he'll tell you Passan was wrong. Another "insider" batting .000 this offseason.

Another guy who knows all the answers. If the Players Association is so worried about collusion, why would a player and his agent play along to suppress what may be the largest contract in the game's history/ It is the dumbest scenerio of all time.

If you don't find that scenerio wrong at all, I am very glad I don't know you. Why did you fail to tell the Phillies your client had agreed to terms with another team and is no longer considering signing with them? Well, we were hoping to fake them out so they wouldn't offer another player too much money, so this player could join my client in Chicago. Mr. Reinsdorf and I cooked this up. How can you now realize how stupid this is?

If you don't think the Phillies are in constant contact with Manny's agent, you are being foolish. To not say you have already agreed to a contract with another team, for the sole purpose of keeping Harper's potential contract lower, is not professional or moral. The agent would be done. Manny would be an outcast. The White Sox would penalized very severely.

They could have wrapped this up the first week of free agency. Corbin was quick and got paid. The markets these guys want to play in aren't available, so it's most likely less money and a place they would rather not be. They are not losing anything waiting now. It's a hail Mary, but they are most likely hoping one of their preferred spots has some sort of change of heart. The most simple explanation is these guys really would rather not play for the White Sox or Phillies.

If Manny agreed to a White Sox contract, how would the Phillies not know he isn't negotiating with him any more? And if it's cool to fake negotiate in an effort to keep another player's contract down, great. This is even dumber than added security for a press conference. The fakes have officially run out of ideas.

So Machado agreed to a White Sox contract, but is still fake negotiating with Philadelphia to keep the price on Harper lower, so the Sox can swoop in and get both. LMAO. Please, no one can be dumb enough to believe this scenerio. And in the billion to one odds it was true, what do you think Bryce Harper would think of Manny Machado once he learned he was in cahoots to supress his market? And what penalty would the White Sox pay? C'mon man.

If he became a right handed Andrew Miller, his being picked 8th overall would be justified. But, of course, that is a bit much to ask, even though Miller was horrid for a while himself. If somehow he becomes useful. Driveline is going to be the answer for all failing pitchers.

I wouldn't say that all along, but at this point, why not? The Sox offer and Phillies offer isn't going away. Why not wait to see if Andujar still throws the ball in the seats, and Tulo still looks like an old man. Suddenly the Yankees might be willing to give Manny enough money to make it work. And Harper probably has a couple of scenerios like that. Some team really going for it gets a devasting injury, maybe it turns into a big expensive break.

It seems now these guys are waiting for guys to either get hurt or suck at their preferred destinations.

If you are in the Chicago area, Marshalls and TJ Maxx usually have a few things.

Be alert

fixed

It was too damn cold. If they ever have it again, 76 won't win. People will be a bit more prepared. I imagine most haven't thrown for a while, probably years. Not much warm up, and 12 degrees. There are probably people kicking themselves they didn't enter, but they would have been just as ill prepared, and dealt with elements that were going to keep the MPH low.

The giveaway is when none of the main guys have anything. Someone obscure may get something first, but one of the main guys will get it within a few hours. When it's nothing but crickets from them, you know the wannabes are all full of crap.