Dick Allen

2 weeks ago was the middle of the Winter Meetings, so just about anything we have heard could have lined up. But I agree, I do think if it's legit it's Ottavino.

That's why I don't think he is the rumored done deal.

I would think if it were the Japanese pitcher, it would have leaked by now. I'll go with the reliever.

They might leave insignificant money on the table, but there is no way Boras is going to let Harper sign for something that is not a record if a record is available. This is his shot. And Adam Jones said Machado will go wherever he makes the most money.

i don't know. Fit...he wants to play SS, I am sure the White Sox want him to play 3B. And culture? The team topped out at 78 wins the last 6 seasons. That's a losing culture. The park is usually a mausoleum. They are constantly ignored not only nationally, but locally as well. I hope they sign him, but if they do, it's going to be about cash.

We will see. These guys have family commitments around the holidays as well. It's a case by case basis. So even if something is agreed to, it might take a week or so to get everything lined up.

Many years ago, I had a source. A guy I worked with was/is friends and did some business with one of JR's sons. He once gave me some info, and I was mocked. It turns out about a half hour after I posted who the Sox made their main target, he was traded to Atlanta. So I was a liar, etc. Later it did come out that the Sox did indeed make a serious effort at the player. So people do get random inside info. This particular poster doesn't appear to be hunting for recognition and doesn't appear to have a need to have everyone think he's an insider. We have had a couple of those. Someone who was right once, either on a guess or random info. Then decided to take their new "insider" status and run with it. Eventually, it's easy to spot. Mocking isn't going to encourage anyone who does have info to post it. I know I never would anymore. If I had anything juicy there are a few posters I would send a private message. But I don't work with that guy anymore, so that probably wouldn't happen anyway.

Yes, the poster who came up with this has a ton of posts. I would imagine if it’s a free agent, they need to come in and take a physical, especially if it’s a pitcher, so with holiday plans that could easily be delayed a few days. If it’s the end of next week and nothing has come out, I will think he was just given bad info. I think I have had somedisagreements with this poster, but I don’t think he would just make this up.

Maybe. But there are no Bryce Harpers out there and maybe their new cable partner is willing to throw even more money at them if they get Harper and basically try to force cable and satellite systems to add them to their line ups.

The Cubs print money and they are going to start printing more. Not only the new TV deal, they have bought up a good portion of their neighborhood. People are going to be paying them all day. The question is how much luxury tax are they willing to pay. To add Harper to their team, it might be more than anyone believes.

The White Sox can wait as long as it takes. They aren't trying to fill holes to win in 2019.

Didn't say he was. That's why I said this is worse.

Alonso does. Probably Castillo does, but at least Castillo is a halfway decent catcher. I already said if he signs Machado, Alonso was a great trade, if he doesn't, it's laughable. But you can't continue to fill roster spots with his friends. He can make some new ones. The object if he signs will be to win, not what he will be doing after the game. One of the major guys quoted an exec wondering what happens if the Sox play starts going south after they signed Machado. He thought it could get ugly. But if friends are required, what if they suck? Are the White Sox stuck with them? What if it upsets Manny? The pitch should be to field the best team possible, not we'll just load it up with your friends. If Castillo and Alonso can't make him comfortable enough, it just shows how low the White Sox organization is regarded.

Being naive is loading up 3 or 4 precious roster spots to make someone feel happy. What if all those guys suck, and they need to be punted away? We can't make Manny unhappy. We already may require him to run to 1B, and maybe play 3B for his $300 million. Somehow Manny has done fine playing without Alonso, playing without Castillo, playing without Jones, playing without Britton. Make the best roster possible. This isn't the NBA where 3 superstar buddies make a title contender, and after Manny, at this point, all these guys are journeymen at best. Alonso and Castillo are enough friends unless his other friends can help the team actually win games. These guys are going to move on anyways in a year or maybe less. Then what? Do they have to find more friends? There are a few guys on the roster we better all hope he doesn't become friends with if he signs or Hahn will be handcuffed. One problem with signing a high profiled Boras client, is Boras becomes an unofficial assistant GM. That's nothing compared to this. Alonso can be Manny's jack Haley. That's plenty.

The White Sox don't have enough good players, and Manny's friends aren't good enough either. Exactly what happens if you lure Manny in with his buddies and suddenly his buddies get replaced? Manny's best buddy is Benjamin Franklin. Show him enough of those and you won't need one former Oriole.

Did you know Ribbie and Rhubarb are in the mascot HOF in Whiting, IN?

Manny Machado or not, I don't think re-uniting the Baltimore Orioles is a good way to rebuild.

Yes. I don’t know the exact figure but is around $15 million for ipension, health care etc. every team is charged the same. Cots estimated it was around &13.5 million in 2017.

Plus bonuses, and you have to add about $15 million for benefits.

Competitive Balance Tax

Theoretically not giving back Bailey’s money would have been worth the prospects Cincinnati gave up.

As long as it doesn't take you out of Machado. Absolutely. If you aren't going to get Harper, you may as well get some prospects.

It's been pretty well know from the beginning if the offers were similar, he' s going to the Yankees. So this isn't news at all.

If it's really about repairing an image, I would think chasing the money to play with a loser wouldn't help. Taking less would be the "honorable" thing to the masses. I really don't think his image is really that bad. He shouldn't have said what he said. His incidents during the playoffs shouldn't have happened, and he probably is an ass. But he is nowhere near Albert Belle's league when it comes to that. I would prefer he hustle. I don't see the harm in it. We expect more from NBA players than to run down the floor and back twice a night. Why can't we expect him to run some things out? But I prefer results even more. He would really help the rebuild. I would rather have Harper, but, and only a few people really know for sure, it appears he would rather play somewhere else. Do you give him $400 million with opt outs knowing he would rather be somewhere else?

There are very few people that really know what is going on.Anyone not directly involved, who claims they do is guessing. Right now all the speculation is chalk. Why wouldn’t anyone think he isn’t going to the Yankees? And if for some reason he didn’t, why wouldn’t the next logically spot be a place the owner said they might spend stupidly? Most insiders don’t like the White Sox chances because A. They suck, and B. This would be so out of character. Once they actually sign one of these types, Albert Belle over 20 years ago notwithstanding, they will be given a better shot in the future. i thought trading for Alonso meant the Sox were going to get him. It isn’t like them to spend $9 million on a prop. It still may play out. But of the people who would actually put info out on Twitter, no one has any idea yet.