Sockin

Because in my view the longer the Sox wait this out and try to get him at what they want him at , you run the risk of another team comes in to give him a shorter term deal with a high AAV and he gets to be a FA again. A team that isn't coming off 100 losses and is a much easier sell. The Sox have reportedly been frustrated with how things are being handled and being happy with their presentations. Presentations don't get you these players. Getting family members don't get you these players. Money does. If they're dicking him around you run the risk of him not even giving them the chance to counter offer something because they're penny pinching him when they have peanuts for payroll.

I mentioned this earlier. Who is involved from what we know? The Sox, Phillies, and maybe the Yankees and maybe a mystery team. If you go up to 300 you eliminate the Yankees and maybe the mystery team. If the Phillies are really mostly concerned with Harper then they would be hesitant to meet that offer. Manny then has the Sox and probably no where else. Call his bluff if he wants 300 and if he does, he'll take it.

I'm of the opinion that they are coming off 100 losses and are probably the most irrelevant then they've been in a long time with no clear cut "stars". There are two potential hall of famers in the prime of their career who are considering your franchise. You have peanuts committed to your payroll and a need for either of them. If they don't land one of these guys attendance will be even lower next year and the fans will be even more pissed off. There is literally no better time than to use the payroll that you planned to have depleted specifically for them. If it costs 300+, you do it.

I would have no problem doing 9/305 if it makes him happy and he isn't bluffing. If the Sox are so frustrated with how this is going down then I can only imagine how frustrated Manny is. This dude knows how good he is. The Sox getting two players who are close to him in the hopes that he maybe takes a little less to come here, especially when everyone knows how much payroll they have available, is ridiculous and to be honest a little insulting to Manny.

And again, the Cubs had the mystique and the drought, players bought into it because they wanted to be on the team that won it after so many failed. The White Sox have nothing close to that. And if they think they do, they're delusional.

Because by everything coming out right now, he has us, the Phillies, maybe a mystery team and maybe the Yankees. You can probably take out the Yankees and mystery team by going to a 34-35/year avg. If the Phillies are truly more concerned with Harper, they will not or be reluctant to meet that offer. Manny would have no other suitors.

100%. We all know players don't want to come here, this franchise doesn't have the mystique of the Cubs. No matter what presentation they gave, no matter what family or friends they've gotten to come here, it really doesn't matter. This is not the time to be penny pinching. They have more than enough flexibility to do this. If it doesn't get done because they didn't want to add something they weren't comfortable with then its all on them. They should know better.

At some point you just have to get your ass up and give him more money and get this done. They've been planning for this offseason for years, don't blow it by dicking around with him. It all comes down to this dude is 26 years old, will move the needle and get fans hopping. Pay the man, make him happy and get it done.

I imagine the offer is legit and the Sox are just really pissed they're being used right now.

Hector is the one who said this last night.

That was a whole 6 days ago!

I am so shocked. I'm really worried that the Sox just are waiting this out and he's going to get annoyed and sign with a high offer with no counter opportunity.

The thing I don't get about the Sox telling Bruce stuff is do they not know how bad his reputation is? I can't imagine an agent seeing anything he says and believing it.

So clearly the Sox did not leak the 8 year offer to Passan if Bob is refuting it. I imagine they are pretty pissed about it.

Yeah I think its just rare for the Sox to have so much smoke around them and then have a deal completed. Only time I can think of something like that happening is with Samardzija and that was a trade.

Because if they're the only team aggressively pursing they don't need to increase their offer unless necessary. They'd be bidding against themselves with that.

Regarding the opt outs, FWIW in Dave’s tweet earlier he did say he would be surprised if Manny wasn’t a “White Sox for life.”

Nightengale said Phillies are the clear cut favorite for Harper and barring any surprises he expects the Sox to get Machado. Dave said at this point it would be a surprise if Manny wasn't a White Sox. Mbs1969 said there's good stuff out there but he can't say anything on here quite yet.

I've been wondering for the past week or so if the opt outs are even worth it for the player in this free agent climate now. Granted things will probably change with a new CBA but as of right now I think I would rather have guaranteed money.

Literally 1 month from today.

Wondering if Dave knows anything or if he's basing it off of Nightengale.

I mean this is the dude who said the Phillies were gonna get Corbin, they won't be outbid, etc etc.

Yep, I don't think Harper ends up in Philly and I think after that the Phillies are going to go hard after Manny if he's still there.

I would feel good about that article if it were anyone other than Bob.