GREEDY

Rick Hahn thinks he's on Pawn Stars

The Phillies and Nationals are the main two players for Harper. IF the Phillies miss out on Harper, seemingly they might be interested in upping or making an offer for Manny. The question is if the Phillies get Harper, would the Sox have the balls to lower their bid for Machado? My feeling is likely no, especially since I think if it got any lower a new suitor would emerge or he'd take a short term deal with an unmentioned contender. So, what is the rush for Manny to sign? Things only seem to get better for him to wait until Harper signs with little downside risk. It is a unique situation this offseason because time usually plays a more important factor. The White Sox have no other real business to conduct. I'm sure they'd like to wrap this up but I don't think they are up on a hard deadline because of corresponding moves like most teams would be traditionally.

Just came here to say that if on November 1st I was expecting to sign close to a 400 million dollar contract, then I'm probably not signing for under 250 million anytime soon.

If you give one player $35mm it only lessens the chances that you can or will be able to afford another like player, regardless of their friendship.

Amen. Hahn was "in" when the rumors were closer to 500 million than they were to 200 million. If another team signs Machado for less than $350,000,000 and it isn't widely reported that the Sox bid more I'll be severely pissed off.

IMHO the opt-out(s) will decide if these are team friendly or player friendly deals. Until those leak I'm not sure anyone knows if the market is less than expected on Harpchado. 8/250 could be a monster offer if front loaded with multiple player opt-outs.

This reads as a classic "Last Call, this is our best offer" leak from Lozano.

Wonder what Rick thinks of people who are known for taking stabs at breaking news coming to a message board and lampooning others for taking stabs at breaking news?

Every song's a comeback Every moment's a little bit later

Manny probably pitched in high school. At least coach doesn't think he wants to come here to close games.

Props to Bauer for standing up for himself. It is a two way street.

Someone in the front office thought "the pursuit" would be good for business. I don't see it, but maybe it is working with the average fan or corporate partner. For me, a crazy ass fanatic, the ONLY way I'm not royally pissed off after this marathon is if it comes out that the Sox bid $300,000,000 + for both players, matched or got very close to the winning bid, and the player just picked a different team. Or of course if they land a Harpchado.

I think you are either misjudging how much upside is "a glimmer of upside" and/or how good John Jay is.

Tilson vs Jay in 2019 would have been close to a coin flip IMHO. The difference is Charlie would have been 3.5mm cheaper, has options remaining, 5 years of control and at least a glimmer of upside. C'mon Manny!

Don't be worried. Nightengale is Kenny's long time mouthpiece. The front office is either is putting the 200 number out there to hide what they are actually offering OR the Sox (and everyone else) is still around that number and they are saying to other organizations "Lets not start a bidding war, we aren't raising our offer, let the guy choose where he wants to play".

Sure you can. Because you are getting Machado for multiple years. In fact, Hahn said specifically that on MLB Network during the winter meetings. He was only interested in players that would help the long term.

Nothing, that is what I was pointing out. You din't get "a hell of a bullpen arm" as stated. You got to the right to pay the "hell of a bullpen arm" about what he is worth, when there was several similar options available in free agency. The Sox *might* have gotten some value in being able to non-tender Colome after '19 if he is bad or hurt. I believe the organization overestimated the reliever market and wanted to sell high on Narvaez.

You got a "hell of a bullpen arm" for about what he would have signed for in free agency (2/20).

You said "Again, OPS is not that relevant for a #2 hole hitter. Focus on OBP" I said "Yikes" You tell me I'll be disappointed in Madrigal? What the what? Seriously, OPS is a relevant statistic for all players. Please reconsider this very poor taek.

Let's see it. -Self Run, Self Made, "Family run business" here

This is all fine and dandy.... but if the it comes out that Manny signed with the Phillies and they outbid the Sox by 20 million, people are going to lose their minds. It is just money until you don't have enough. You know what some clubs would give to be able to clear $13,000,000 off their payroll? I think it is perfectly reasonable to question and discuss why the Sox have spent $62,000,000 since the winter meetings on Stop-Gap types.

This is not a great line of thinking. There is no proof that 13,000,000 saved couldn't be used on a future payroll. Alonso/Jay have almost zero upside. Even if they have a nice first half both will have trade value similar to the money they are owed for the remainder of the season. And finally, the most important aspect on why I don't want to watch the Sox acquire Stop-Gap type players in an effort to win 75 games: The opportunity/plate appearances could be given to a player with control remaining. A failed prospect. A lottery ticket... anything that might help the Sox win down the line.

I don't believe that is true. Accountants can do a million different things to move money from one year to the next. If the shareholders are on board with a penny saved is a penny earned for future payroll then that just isn't a problem.

Yikes.

Crackpot Theory: These friends and family moves have more to do with Jerry wanting to be an old school fiscally responsible owner and not Overpay/Outbid the competition by millions of dollars. So Hahn has to get creative and try to make the Sox an attractive destination with a fair offer, instead of doing what everyone else does when they need a player and just bid the most.