Dick Allen

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.

According to JR, it does.

I was watching MLBN a couple of weeks ago and they were talking about the first draft they televised. They invited a bunch of players to attend and only one did. Mike Trout. They were feeling so bad for him as he kept getting passed over. He had the last laugh.

I used to work with a guy who knew him pretty well and he did prefer baseball. Back then he was telling my friend how he would be a bit more aggressive than his father. Looks like that has changed in quite a big way. At one time I was excited about the possibility of him taking over. Now I think it would be a disaster.

I would take either one. Each has issues, and each has their extra appeal. Machado plays the infield, is GG at 3B...probably more consistent so far. Harper has had some swings, defense may be a problem and plays the OF so that's a little easier to fill. He also is repped by Boras which isn't great other than you know Boras keeps his clients in shape. So 5 or 6 years from now, Harper isn't going to get out of shape. Machado, you never know. Harper sells you more tickets and gets you more notice nationally. I read a scout's take on it. He said if you signed them each for 10 years, you would get 8 All Star seasons and 1 MVP out of Machado, and with Harper's swings, 6 All Star seasons but 3 MVPs. If he is at all near accurate, you can't go wrong with either. The fact that they are 26 makes them unique. They may have not reached peak performance yet.

Law speculated the Dodgers really weren’t too interested because he isn’t a good framer.

Especially if you are out in it.

Game time is a problem, but there are some 3 1/2 hour games that are a joy to watch, and some that seem like it started 2 days ago. Limiting the mound visits was a great start. The number of pitchers used is only going to go up, unfortunately. With the emphasis on being selective, ABs are going to take longer. It generally takes someone longer to strike out than ground out to SS. So basically it's just find some way to eliminate as much of the dead time as you can.

Never was a White Sox farmhand. His father found the bonus the team was offering was embarrassing. He became an Independent League scrub.

He told us something.