iamshack

A smarter poster wouldn’t be surprised as much as you are.

Boras was likely never going to allow for that to happen.

Boras was likely never going to allow for that to happen.

Badger, perhaps in retrospect we should have shared nothing. My apologies. All i’ll say is this: if you consider that the Sox may have 1) always considered signing both players; 2) potentially preferred to sign Harper if Machado’s market price outpaced their own internal valuation by a certain margin; or 3) preferred Harper but believed converting on Machado may have been easier, given the way the market developed, is it not feasible to see how things may have reached this point?

Let’s be clear, I had no sense of exactly where the Sox limits were or were not. If anyone tells you they have that information, they are very likely lying, or you are hearing that, in person, from the folks making those very decisions.

Keep in mind the Phillies FO. They are very analytical. They stated the reported offer on Manny was higher than their valuations. “Sometimes you have to be willing to walk away.” It remains to be seen how much they may deviate from their internal valuations now that Machado is off the board.

No one said that, that I’m aware of. And secondly, I told you if the bidding reached a certain point they may refocus.

The Sox were trying to navigate through the bs though. They likely didn’t know what was true and what wasn’t. Negotiating is an art, not a science. It’s doubtful that they knew what Lozano had and didn’t. They gambled and lost. As of right now, Boras is claiming to have a big offer on the table already. What the hell does that really mean? Its anyone’s guess.

Ugh, it most certainly is not.

Badger, your reaction is perfectly reasonable. And I can’t tell you it is for sure totally inaccurate. And I’ll be honest, the scenario I laid out in the last piece I shared...it’s what I’ve put together based on all kinds of conversations I’ve had. But I don’t think there’s any way for me to truly know what their intentions were/are unless they tell us after the fact. Only our FO truly know all their intentions and plans. But if you did subscribe to the line of thinking I did lay out, nothing has happened as of yet to really prove any of it is wrong. In fact, the fact that the Sox didn’t do what it took to sign Manny points a lot more to that scenario being correct than to it being incorrect. If Harper signs a very reasonable offer with another team, I’ll admit I was likely wrong. And I don’t mind that. I don’t really care. I just want Harper now.

Lillian, Your posts have been A+ on this topic.

I’m not talking about 2019-2020.

It’s not always as simple. They have their own valuations of each, but you never know what other actors may do. So sometimes, it’s one of those one bird in hand situations. They really thought they were going to get Machado. As I said earlier, i’m not sure if they would have increased again they would have been able to still land Bryce. And ultimately they may have been willing to gamble on not raising because they saw what was happening with Bryce. I don’t know for certain.

No argument there.

And furthermore, http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?/topic/106772-machado-signs-with-padres-10300/&do=findComment&comment=3729678

http://www.soxtalk.com/forums/index.php?/topic/106772-machado-signs-with-padres-10300/&do=findComment&comment=3737270

Being wrong and doing what you’re told can be right

It’s pretty clear they thought they had Machado. I don’t know whether they planned to still pursue Harper has they landed Machado at their final offer. Only the Sox know. But being upset because they missed on Manny doesn’t mean they aren’t in on Harper. Will they get him? I don’t know. Pretty sure they’re trying though.

They didn’t do a presentation for Harper and meet with him again in Vegas because they planned on offering him less than the Nationals offered him in October. They clearly wanted Machado badly, and they’re not going to suddenly offer $400m for Harper. But they’re not out by any means.

As I said, your narrative is looking up atm. And should the Sox sign neither player, I shall be very critical of the FO. However, this isn’t over yet.

No one’s bragging, and no one guaranteed anyone anything. But you may be judging prematurely.

Things are looking up for your desired narrative atm. That may not be the case for long, Earl the Pearl.

Dude.

That’s how I read it. And we have flexibility to not sign Machado as well. Even if Yolmer plays 3rd this year, and Harper were to play OF, I don’t think that would be appreciably worse (if Harper/Manny had similar offensive profiles this season).

Of course it is, but if you want to have conspiracy theories, there are plenty that work in favor of Machado as well.