Dick Allen

The pressure should be on the White Sox. Red Sox, Yankees, Cubs, Dodgers, all out. If they were ever going to sign one, now is the time. Fail now, chances are they fail down the road when the big boys get more involved.

Might be time to leak the White Sox being deeply engaged with Harper. It may make Lozano flinch a little. If whatever the Sox offer to MM goes away and Harper a White Sox, the Phillies probably won't bid against themselves as all these mystery teams seem about as likely as the Cubs moving to Rosemont. I wonder if Lindors injury moves the needle. If either of the big 2 get hurt before they sign, even though I am sure they are somewhat insured, it could cost them many millions.

Ellsbury doesn't come off, and Gardner came off this year, and Harper isn't there. The Cubs have a ton of additional money being added without adding anyone.

And why would $300 million be available next year?

So the guy on espn.com who picks All Star teams is guessing Harper to SD, Manny to Philly. That would be a kick in the nuts. A direct hit.

My source is telling me Manny will make a decision within the next 2 weeks. If this doesn't happen, as you know, things are fluid, so please don't criticize or I may be forced to never share any more information my inaccurate source feeds me. I would share more, but don't want to endanger any deals.

So there’s an empty locker. The Sox are after Manny. If he signs maybe that is his locker. But I don’t get where anyone can come up with Alonso hinting at anything posting this picture.

Clearly a sign that Machado is signing as soon as they can find enough security to cover a press conference.

If Driveline works for Fulmer, it will take an arm falling off for anyone to give up on a pitching prospect again. Fulmer's stuff was fine. He couldn't throw a strike to save his life. I don't know how more spin and higher velo corrects that unless maybe it calms down his delivery a bit.

I don't know if paying Otto Porter $27 million a year is the answer, but at least GarPax recognized they aren't going to be attracting any good free agents when better teams from better climates, with coaches that don't make them do push ups, will be offering the same cash. If ownership isn't going to make a change, a move like this was about all they could do.

Doesn't look like the press conference is today. Maybe they couldn't get enough security.

The White Sox wouldn't need additional security or security on call for a freaking press conference. They might need it if some other team was having a press conference announcing Machado's signing.

How much security do you need for a press conference? Scott Merkin is a baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad man.

Did you hear about the movie Constipation? Probably not. It hasn’t come out yet.

I agree. The problem is either the White Sox are offering what Olney is saying, or even with all his friends, Manny really would rather play somewhere else.

Is Heyman a Senior Vice President yet at the Boras Corporation?

I think it was Phil Rogers who tweeted the fact that Lozano called them out made it seem more likely they are accurate.

I think it is pretty clear he isn’t getting $300 million, and it has been clear for months.

So who has the actual numbers?

I am pretty sure the way things are going, if Manny has a $250 million offer right now, he would be signed.

Unless the Sox are going on a talent acquiring spree the next couple of weeks, even though this is minor league, it is exactly the opposite, which seems to be a running theme this offseason, of the type of players Hahn said he would acquire. If you aren’t going to win, you might as well play your young crap, just in case something clicks, than a older guy who can onky muster up a minor league pact, because he is a replacement level player. it is minor league, so probably if he sucks in spring training he is released. I just think he doesn’t move the needle enough to blow off your younger players, even if they suck.

See Schott, Marge. I don't think he has anything to do with the Cubs or this would be a gigantic story.

He definitely should be paid by Boras. But, if there is any truth to this, than it is more than likely Bruce Levine was right, and all the others that said the Sox are bidding at least $250 million are only insiders in their imaginations. The other problem with this is it may make guys like Arenado more likely to sign an extension than not know where he will be playing a week or so before Spring Training. The White Sox better land one, because it won’t be easier in the future.

Heyman is a well known mouthpiece for Boras. Nothing to see here. Think about it. They already turned down $300 million. They won’t sign for a discount . If SD was willing to pay more than $300 million, they would have been in this a lot sooner.

Having Bryce Harper in SD is a loss for MLB. Nice place, but not all that marketable and West Coast. As big of a starTrout is, if he played east he would be even bigger. MLB doesn’t need its biggest names playing games when most of the leagues fan base has hit their fart sacks.