Dick Allen

If they didn’t sign Machado, I think the plan would be to sign a 2B and temporarily move Torres to SS. At least that is what Cashman said on MLBN during the Winter Meetings.

So he’s not unlike Bruce Levine, Phil Rogers, Bob Nightengale, any White Sox beat reporter. They all get slammed here, yet we have numerous threads that are based on their reporting. There really isn’t one guy who hasn’t been slammed before. People get things wrong, but this guy is putting his blogging or whatever he does career on the line with his tweet. Maybe to him it’s worth the risk , but I really don’t see what ultimately he gains by being right here. It won’t put him on a national stage and make him millions. Being wrong will basically ruin this portion of his life. That is why I believe he is telling the truth

They probably would never admit it sets it back, but it’s huge. These guys are most likely perennial MVP candidates. It would be like the White Sox in the early 90 s sans Frank Thomas. The Cubs without Kris Bryant. Houston without Jose Altuve. If an additional $50 million to $75 million over 10 years is the difference from being a have or have not, it is a pretty small price to pay. JR gave Jabari Parker a good chunk of that just to try to find a team where the Bulls could trade him.

I understand 3. But, they also have to realize they are in a different position than when they signed Belle. They don’t have a HOFer and an all star he can bat in between. The teams interest level is getting close to lows since JR owned the team. They have to pay for that.

Not at all. I really don’t get the Sox interest. I just pointed out one possibility. And it would appear Alonso would be the guy who left. But the Sox brought him in to lure Manny. Apparently, they need some new bait. That would be $. . If I were Mannys agent I would call that bluff in a heartbeat. It would be too easy. That is why I doubt it is a plant from the White Sox.

From what I have read about JR, he isn’t one for prolonged negotiations. With Belle, he basically gave him what they asked. With Abreu, RH was surprised he went where he went. So if it was to the point as you suggested they neede to add years and money, the reports that they won’t be outbid seem erroneous.

But seriously, Jon Morosi reporting the Sox are in on EE , given their current position, and roster, would make Lozano blink? That would be impossible to believe.

Why wouldn’t the White Sox be offering max dollars and years? If that wasthe reason for this leak, it would laughable. More laughable than the leak of interest in taking Dayan Viciedo off their hands.

Because acquiring him or being in on him almost certainly means Alonso would be moving along. They even had a conference call with Alonso.

They both should have been replaced when it was determined despite having several players on team friendly contracts, they had not assembled enough talent in their organization or left enough available cash to go outside to acquire some, but they bought themselves time. But some progress needs to be seen. Part of their plan was Machado and/or Harper. If that fails, and next season the prospects aren’t making significant progress, it may be time to make a change. At some point being successful has to matter. 2019, probably not, although many thought 2019 was going to be the year the Sox started really turning it around. Reality set in, and prospects often struggle. But they need to show advancement. As it stands, there are some decent free agents that currently would be available after next season. Would anyone feel confident RH and KW are the team that would reel one or two of them in?

Why did they wait so long? Couldn’t they have done this before Christmas?

But it does suggest the Sox are out on Machado.

You are not being accurate. I am just pointing out several reasons why there could be delays, especially this time of year. i don’t want the White Sox to fail. I probably have given them more money in my lifetime than 99% of this board. I would like to see them win. I would like Machado at 3B and Harper in RF. But I have also been paying attention, and realized that it was most likely a pipedream. Admittedly, when they traded for Alonso, I thought Manny was a done deal. They White Sox spending $9 million as a prop wouldn’t be typical. But things seem to be going where most thought.

I have the same question. But Morosi is one of the major guys. People have bought his stuff all offseason. The only thing that might make sense is if they signed Harper, there would be no need for Alonso since they would slide Palka to DH. I would imagine Alonso would be in the deal. Jerry D gets to make another trade and saves a little coin. But it still doesn’t make much sense to me from a White asox perspective, and now you have to count on Harper. And he he went somewhere else......

Not if said player signs elsewhere.

That is why I am buying it. Both came out the same day. Maybe a coincidence, maybe both fake, but that doesn’t seem likely.

He’s doing his thing with the Reds. He must have some really good info on a lot of people.

Since you think the White Sox are still in and have made what Obviouly would have be a bigger bid than the Yankees and basically calling this report fake, aren’t you drawing your own conclusions? What makes what I am using vs what you are using any less accurate?

They pretty much challenged themselves with these two. Hahn has often mentioned that the White Sox don’t operate they way they used to. That the money was there for a piece they needed. KW stated the piece or pieces they needed were available now. So if they miss, something doesn’t add up. As my guy Geddy Lee used to sing, the more things change, the more they stay the same. 2nd place doesn’t cut it.

I just don’t think the White Sox are in a position to play that game. If they don’t know it is going to cost them more than it would the Yankees, they were screwed from the get go. If they want one of these guys they are going to have to blow away the competition, not try to nickel and dime them. When JR signed Belle he asked them what it was going to take. He then agreed. Here it is a bit more, so there could be some back and forth, but not nearly as much as there could be if they actually were a desirable destination.

The White Sox are 134 games under .500 the 6 seasons Rick Hahn has been GM. I am guessing Matt Millen wasn’t available.

He would do it for the financial savings. But what does paying EE a minimum $25 million do for the White Sox? and wouldn’t trading Alonso mean Machado isn’t coming?

I did get a kick out of Boras telling everyone Harper was studying farm systems. Someone might want to remind him that the team he left had a talent level few do, and he is still looking for his first postseason series win.

Because they have that position filled, one by Machado’s brother in law, and Encarnacion is pretty much a DH only, owed a minimum $25 million, 35 years old, coming off a down year. And Morosi, and maybe that is also inaccurate, made it seem like the Sox were doing a bit more that checking in on him. And it comes out the same day of the other report. If everything that comes out is bullshit, how do we know the reports of the White Sox really being a player for theses guys and not the typical also rans they normally are, aren’t bullshit?

It is amazing how many just find effort good enough. It make sense the more effort you put into things the better you will be, but effort doesn’t matter in the real world.. results do. You have a kid in little league, giving their best effort is important. Whether they actually win the game really doesn’t matter that much.