Dick Allen

Because this isn't Little League, where it's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game. This is if you win or lose. If they lose and spend $13 million on top of that, it takes that failure up a notch.

I am not faulting them at all if it works. In fact I gave them so much credit, I thought trading for Alonso made it a done deal. Maybe this does as well. But if I have to see Yolmer at 3B in 2019 with Jay in CF and Alonso at 1b/DH, and Manny playing for NYY or PHI, yeah, I am going to fault the front office. The money is never inconsequential.

Say you have $20k in the bank you would consider spending money. You decide, you know what, I need a blow out vacation. I am going to spent $15k on it. The next year your car breaks down, you need a new one. Would your car budget be higher, lower or the same had you not spent the $15k on the vacation? I cannot understand how anyone cannot get the logic that money spent now is money that will not be in the bank for later. It is the very reason the White Sox are even mentioned when Machado and Harper come up.

If JR had the extra $13 million in the bank next October, there's a pretty good chance he would OK a 2019 payroll a bit higher than if it was already spent. The reason the Sox have some money to play with is they have had very low payrolls the last couple of years.

The $13 million, if not spent, would not magically disappear. It would still be available.

I am really not nearly as dense as some try to make me. I know the checks aren't going to bounce. I am merely saying they have spent $13 million and are still a 95 loss team. If that $13 million reels in Machado, it's great. It is money well spent. If not, it's $13 million that won't be in the checking account when you are actually adding players to win games. At some point, that $13 million makes a difference for every team.

When they traded for Alonso, I figured it was a done deal. But, apparently no. Now Jay. They have to have been told something. I guess the danger here is when it's time to say goodbye to them, is Manny going to be OK with that? I sure wish he made more friends at All Star games.

I know I don't. What I do know is if you spend $4 million or $9 million now and not put it in the bank, when you are looking to add payroll next year, your bank account won't have that $13 million you spent . I am not upset at all as long as this works. If it doesn't work, it's foolish. They have already spent $13 million on Manny's friends.

Because it is money and playing time you can't give to someone more useful. Why didn't the White Sox just sign a bunch of one year free agents last year to try to win 80 games? Jay in CF actually may wind up an overall downgrade from Engel, and I am about as sick of watching Adam Engel try to hit as anyone. Now you squeeze out another OF, which is fine if they get Machado. But if they don't, it's dumb.

Because it's money that has already been spent and cannot be spent when they need it. Again, if Machado is a White Sox, it's brilliant. If he isn't, it's ridiculous.

Leury, Engel...not John Jay. How come you never mentioned Jay until last night if he is such a good fit? He isn't very good. We all know why he is a White Sox. If Manny Machado was not a potential signing, there is zero chance they would bring this guy in.

Until he signed, no one mentioned Jay as an nice option for this team. So you can try to spin it all you want. This signing is for one purpose. If it works, outstanding. If it doesn't, eventually all these $9 million, and $4 million gambles will add up.

He's an aging guy who is spending less and less time in CF, with no pop. If it doesn't bring Machado, it's a ridiculous signing.

Maybe Jay being here will help him cover with Alonso when Manny wants to cheat on his wife. I'm sure it was discussed in negotiations.

Didn't your source say Boras had nothing to do with this? Harper was running everything.

From a baseball and rebuilding prospective, I would prefer Delmonico and Leury, and Yolmer to Jon Jay. But if Jay gets you Machado, those 3 can go stratch. If Machado still goes to the Yankees, it's time for a change.

When will they announce ARod being brought in to take Steve Stone's place?

There is also talk he would take less because besides the winning part, he gets to live at home during Spring Training.

If we are all sticking to what we have all along, this doesn’t matter too much. If I was in Mannys position, my wife’s top 3 choices would be New York, New York, then New York. If I then told her besides taxes, Chicago is willing to pay me $50 million more, she would say promise me we can move to New York when you are done playing.

Yes, the extra control would make all the difference in the world on a flip.

This blows bucket away.

But really, are they going to get more? What difference does it make to these teams if he is making his decision today or next week or the week after? Until they know it's about to happen, their best offers are probably not on the table. If anything, he may lose a team or two and some leverage because if they are contending, they may have to move on.

I have heard it speculated that Harper and Machado are holding up the rest of the market. If it's even slightly true, wouldn't the players association be putting some pressure on them to sign something?

If he signs for 7 years, Bruce Levine is owed several apologies.

They probably only received money they will need to pay him. But this isn't so bad. Now the Rockets will owe them a solid down the road. There has to be someone from Chicago they can bring in next year, overpay, and wish they never signed before the exhibition season ends. Okafor maybe.