almagest

The only people I talk basketball with we talk about the state of the league and the Bulls. Most people I talk to we talk about football.

Good for *some* players.

We really disagree then. That system is a joke and it's a big reason why we have like 2 teams that can realistically win, a ton of teams with midlevel players stuck in NBA hell and a fight for lotto picks. High level players are also severely suppressed in salary potential.

Do you look at the NBA and say "yes this is good for the players, the fans, the team employees and the owners"?

Look at the NBA. You have marginal players making way too much money and lots of weird trade exemptions and salary matching and all sorts of messed up payroll situations.

When you cap team payrolls you cap salaries. The only thing that would make this situation worse is a salary floor.

It's not being cheap, it's not paying any higher than market value, and market value is set by the highest offer. It's the responsible way to act. As much as we'd like to throw 300+ million at both players to sign them right now it doesn't matter if they sign now or right before spring training or even before the first game. This is franchise-altering money and it makes sense that teams are taking their time. That said if we don't sign Machado or Harper it's going to be a bloodbath and I will have no sympathy for the White Sox.

If the Sox can get Machado for 25-30/yr then Harper is not entirely unrealistic. I wouldn't be surprised if they were going for both as some posters have speculated. That would take some crazy negotiation savvy but given Reinsdorf's reputation that might be possible.

I've been dreaming of if Harper could replicate his 10 WAR season and Trout just puts up 8 and 9 WAR seasons like it's nothing. Of course that means he's worth $72-$81 mil/yr...

We're probably a long shot on this one but if we don't sign Harper...

That would be "stupid money" for sure.

"Stupid money" meaning "one big headliner and a bunch of solid depth" is pretty smart.

That's a good offseason.

It's been said multiple times that the Sox are silent when something is closer to happening. Could be a good sign?

Even reading this is already making me mad.

He's covering his ass because he's not sure. "Rival MLB executive" info sounds good though.

"Deal could be announced this week or could still fall through." - bleh

Yeah this is a battle of the White Sox vs. Manny's agent right now. He's trying to shop the updated offer around and we're not letting him. Unfortunately it's probably too late and the Phillies or whoever already assume there's an updated offer so they're deciding if they're going to update theirs. I worry both that someone is going to come along and sweep him up while we dick around with a competitive but not amazing offer, and that the Sox are going to get pissed about the leaks and either decide to pull the offer (unlikely I hope) or that they won't budge off 8/$250 or whatever the current offer is (more likely I'd think; hopefully still not likely).

The Sox gave up 6 runs in each game they lost that series. Would've been nice to have Quentin in the lineup but it was the pitching that series.

If we do sign Machado for much less than expected I wonder if they still push for Harper?

Can we keep the music talk out of this thread please? Maybe take it to PMs?

If it's something like 7 years/$240 mil that would be ~$34 mil/year.

Doesn't make sense to sign Tulo unless they plan to deal Andujar and play Machado at third. Then it could work, assuming Tulo goes to the bench when Didi is back.

For sure. I don't know what is going on with his shoulder and that should scare anyone away.

This will never ever happen but boy oh boy would I love it for so many reasons.