JUSTgottaBELIEVE

Again, they could have moved money to resign Machado if they REALLY wanted him or just paid the luxury tax for the one year. Bottom line, they didn’t think he was worth $300M. Try to excuse it how ever you want but that’s the truth.

From a “value” perspective, I’d take Rendon at 8/$260M over Machado at 10/$300M. Let’s see if Rendon beats that number. Harper was always overhyped. Very good player but what has he done to deserve a contract near $400M?

Yep. Supposedly the Yankees and Dodgers didn’t have the money but now they do a year later? If they really wanted Machado they could have found a way to fit him in.

It’s exactly what was predicted at the start of last offseason.

Ok but you framed it in a way that Manny was so much more affordable because the big boys were out of the bidding. I don’t believe that. Not when he got $300M from the Padres. And from the Sox perspective when looking at these two $300M players, signing Cole would address a much bigger need for the team than Manny would. I realize they aren’t in on this one but I’d take Cole 10/10 times over Machado and apparently the Yankees would too.

But he still got $300M(!) where’s the bargain in that??

People say that but it still would have cost the Sox >$300M(!) to sign Machado. It wasn’t some kind of huge bargain because the big boys were sitting that one out (even the Yankees wouldn’t go that high on Machado).

Neither of us know for certain but the point is people were laughing at the idea of 6/132. “No way he’ll get that.” Whelp

What’s so funny? 6/132 likely would have gotten it done. Unfortunately, 5/120-125 did not...

Don’t worry, they’re on their way.

It’s a fair question. I’m not sure they extend Eloy or give Jose 3/50 if they had signed Machado.

Eloy and Abreu are different cases. One they had control of for years without an extension. The other they could have let walk this winter.

Sox said the money will be spent. They didn’t say how or over a certain number of years, just that the $250M would be spent. Looks like they’re on track to do that this winter alone.

No. I’m not on Twitter. After the first two signings and being the rumored leader on Wheeler, it’s the first question that came to my mind.

And the future is so bright, in part due to the reasons you mention above. No reason this team can’t be a perennial division contender or favorite over the next 4-6 years. Get in and anything can happen from there...

I am assuming they sign a high end starting pitcher, which I think is very likely given how this offseason has started. Again, I’m not a huge fan of Grandal but he was a tier (or two) above Cabrera and LaRoche. Abreu is more in line with those two. And a high end starting pitcher > Robertson.

Nah, insane is giving Machado $300M...

I agree but still is Harper > Grandal + Abreu + Wheeler. I’m not even a huge fan of Grandal but I don’t think Harper is.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Jerry’s boys said the money would be spent and that appears to be happening; however, I don’t believe they would have been this aggressive in free agency if they still had Manny on the books for another 7-9 years.

Well, so was Machado’s deal so there’s that.

Better spent on a single Manny Machado last winter or Grandal, Abreu, + Wheeler this winter? Fans still upset they missed on Machado?

Can someone explain to me why Grandal and Abreu’s bWAR numbers were nearly identical last season but there is such a large disparity in their fWAR numbers?

Regarding Jose, I thought they’d go 2 years $28M with a third year option/buyout. This deal is guaranteeing about $15M more than I expected. Can’t say I’m surprised though. It is certainly an overpay but not enough for me to get worked up about when you consider the context/intangibles he brings to the club.

They were talking about this on the Score earlier today. They cited studies that indicate catcher pitch framing drops off dramatically starting at age 32. I’m not sure Grandal is even an average defender if you take out the pitching framing component. Hopefully he bucks the historical trend.

There’s no question he’s better than Wellington but he’s also getting paid MUCH more than Wellington was. You can’t completely discount the possibility of Grandal’s offense deteriorating in the relatively near future (particularly a known PED user, much like Welly). Hopefully it doesn’t deteriorate until year 4 rather than year 1 or 2.