caulfield12

Not to this extent. You also didn’t start those years with almost half the teams in the AL not actively trying to win. There was a lot more balance and parity, overall.

We managed without in 2005...but it’s harder to imagine in this day and age with superteams like the Red Sox, Yankees and Astros.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/manny-machado-sweepstakes-are-set-for-phillies-win If you want to get really annoyed with Phils’ writers for thinking we are only capable of offering $175...lol. See, it’s working, other teams are getting overconfident!

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/columns/benjamin-hochman/hochman-yadier-molina-passionately-responds-to-remarks-by-cubs-kris/article_6561c144-1e95-54c8-a65b-7eafd08eece9.html During the Cardinals' Caravan on Saturday, relief pitcher John Brebbia said in jest, in response to Bryant: “Cry me a river, loser.” This became news. Yadi took a screenshot of Bryant talking and put a response on Instagram: “All stars, elite players and leaders of their teams do not speak bad about any city. There should be respect and you should play and compete with respect... only stupid players and losers make comments like the ones made by bryant and dempster .. #ceroRespectforthisstupidplayers #QuevivaStlouis #LOVESTL" Pause Current Time0:00 / Duration Time0:00 Stream TypeLIVE Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% 0:00 Fullscreen

In the 7-10 year time span, the risk with 2 mega deals is massive. Moustakas is a proven veteran, they can get some more bullpen help from the Padres along with one of their Latin American outfield prospects to provide depth and ride with Harper. If things go south, they are still protected because a 2-3 year deal for Moose would have him leaving at the same time as Nola and many vets like Arrieta, Robertson and McCutcheon will be departing in roughly the same window...but they would have Harper to rebuild around and sell tickets at least. The more you look at that roster...they’re not going to be set up well past 2021. Theoretically, that’s where the four year opt-out could kick in.

All the teams and their fans are looking down on the White Sox right now. Same with NY and Boston fans looking down on the Phillies, or Cubs’ players and fans looking down on the Cardinals. Thats why it is so important now that we do follow through and sign a whale to shut them up. Because next year when the Sox are pursuing free agents...all we’ll hear about is how the Sox were supposedly in the driver’s seat on Machado for weeks and even added $13 million in contracts to accommodate him and STILL couldn’t get ‘er done (must be said with the Mater voice from Lightning McQueen).

Somehow I copied the Madden box too...don’t recall Ozzie ever saying “he came up on one-year deals” and enjoyed having the opportunity to prove himself again.

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant called St. Louis "boring" during a comedic moment at the team's annual fan convention this weekend. When Cardinals star catcher Yadier Molina heard about the comment, he responded by saying "only stupid players and losers" make fun of other cities. 'I came up on one-year deals': How Joe Maddon is approaching 2019 As the skipper enters his potential final year in Chicago, Maddon is leaving no stone unturned as he tries to get the Cubs back on track after a disappointing finish and a quiet offseason. "I'm like, 'Zero chance in hell,'" Dempster said. "No way. Won't even go there as a free agent. Not happening." Cardinals outfielder Marcell Ozuna, commenting on Molina's post, also took exception to the comments. "From outside they speak and talk like tiger but at the end they gonna be like little cat .. #cerorespectforthisstupidplayers #quevivastlouis #LOVESTL," Ozuna said on Molina's post. http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25802952/yadier-molina-st-louis-cardinals-takes-exception-comments-kris-bryant-ryan-dempster

That would probably be Yolmer or Asdrubal Cabrera at 2B.

Bryant, Almora And Longoria go off on slow-developing Machado/Harper market http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25797148/kris-bryant-chicago-cubs-frustrated-unsigned-bryce-harper-manny-machado

If you follow the $9-10 million value per fWAR, it’s going to be roughly a $35 to $40 million per year AAV.

The Bulls are the perfect counterargument to Southsider2k5 about why White Sox fans don’t owe 100% loyalty to the team...how are those season ticket buyers for the Bulls being rewarded for their money and patience? ONLY a change to the profitability of the franchise will bring about a new front office, and having more revenues still hasn’t produced a superstar free agent signing for many, many years.

OR any players who will be used as leverage to sign superstar players...

If we can beat out about 12 other teams that would offer the same...especially the Braves and Phillies.

They won’t or shouldn’t let Machado dictate his position. You can’t strengthen your team only to simultaneously weaken it. Montgomery isn’t the kind of difference-maker at this point in his career you trade real talent for. And the Cubs’ current need for Almora is much larger than ours because of 7 outfield prospects being in the pipeline, including 4 that can play CF. If we deal anyone to them, let it be Colome or Herrera at mid season, but just not seeing a match...or a reason to help out the Cubs by freeing up payroll space for someone like Chatwood.

They can’t afford to trade Almora with Happ struggling a bit, Zobrist entering his last year and a cloud over Russell. Hard to imagine how trading Almora could make them better for this year. Jones wouldn’t be nearly enough with his injury history. And we don’t have any outfielders that could help them this year. Even Leury and Jones wouldn’t get it done.

For $20+ million on a one year deal? No way. There’s never going to be more upside than downside on a rebuilding team. Maybe with Machado, they would consider it, but another contender will be the one to sign him on a short/er term deal. Next year, it’s something to realistically look at, hoping development of youngsters makes it unnecessary.

You created the impression that you had some unique insight or connection to the team that others don’t possess. Go back to your first handful of posts, and reflect on what type of impression you’re creating. You got a lot of attention in the beginning, but if you want to continue operating as a source, you’re going to have to come up with more than educated guesses or quickly discounting a signing being a possibility when the negative news hits. Most posters are quite capable of going up and down emotionally with each breaking story, but real front offices don’t operate in such a haphazard fashion.

Or the mystery team has the highest offer technically, but there’s some similarities to the Kikuchi deal where the whole thing isn’t guaranteed...that’s another possibility, but the likeliest is still no mystery team existing. What teams would actually want to remain “operating in the dark web” so that their fans don’t even know they’re actually pursuing Machado?

“This is no way to attract free agents. Forget the elite ones. But if the Bulls target solid, experienced veterans to contribute culturally and statistically, they might need to overpay to land them. That’s how lowly the Bulls are viewed around the league these days.” KC Johnson quote from today’s Trib

https://sports.yahoo.com/red-sox-owner-says-young-012053617.html John Henry on younger players’ increasing productivity impacting FA

I’d go green for trusted/verified sources, yellow or caution for most everyone in between and red for proven imposters...of course, the reds will quickly disappear from the board because they won’t get the positive attention they’re seeking.

According to SNY's Andy Martino, Machado "has met personally with at least one of the unidentified teams in recent days." Martino also asserted Machado "will go to highest bidder, period."

Something like the Good Housekeeping Seal Of Approval...except for sauces. Will concur that anything over $360 million or $40 million AAV will provide the White Sox a bit of an out. That said, the obvious question is going to when, and under what conditions...will they be able to get their guy? If we go through another year like 2018 in terms of both player development and injuries, it’s going to be even harder for the White Sox next offseason with even more teams increasing the demand for a limited number of truly impact players. Trading Jay, Castillo and Alonso would be a constant reminder of Machado not being on the team...just like keeping them and pretending it was part of the strategic plan all along, which pretty much NOBODY will buy.

Except Andujar is worth a lot more than a one year rental. Maybe they’d consider it keeping him out of the AL, though...