Chicago White Sox

The only other team that would consider $400M is the Phillies and I’m not even sure they would go that high.

Not anymore, 20% of the contract value I believe.

He’s got balls because he knows he has a $400M check to play with. No other reason to be so candid / confident.

Thanks skip!

Look at this smirk on Rick’s face at the end. We’re finally getting our Moby Dick.

Who is available next year other than Sale, Cole, & Bumgarner?

Good god; these Winter Meetings have gotten so boring the GMs have resorted to joke trades.

Not taking that long bro.

Great add for the Rays. Can’t believe the Astros didn’t push for something like this.

Right? It’s pretty easy for them to say “we feel the White Sox are in a position to compete for multiple championships in the coming years” after he signs his $400M deal.

I’m sure they do, someone on Scott Boras’ payroll.

What contracts are you referring to and which ones didn’t involve taking back money?

If these aren’t obvious plants to make the Sox bid against themselves, then I don’t know what is.

I don’t buy the Cubs can pull off a Harper pursuit based on this article: https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-bullpen-help-winter-meetings-20181212-story.html

I hope so, not like there is anything else to cover at the moment.

Do we think he announces us signing Harper now or waits until SoxFest?

It’s really, really bad.

Define “short-term”, because $300M over four or five years would be ridiculous and would make a 10/$400M deal far more attractive IMO.

But the Sox have come out and said they’re actively pursing the whales. By default, Reinsdorf is already aligned unless our front office is completely incompetent and did not run this plan by him. Jerry is also old as fuck and probably a bit more eager to spend some money than in years past, but that’s just my assumption. There is nothing but random speculation connecting the Dodgers to Harper. What we know is they have communicated to potential investors they plan to stay under the luxury tax over the next few years. We also know Friedman is a bit more conservative when it comes to pay market value for start free agents. Until I hear from Ken Rosenthal or someone of that nature, I don’t buy any of these rumors to be nothing more Boras-fueled leaks.

It’s different because Friedman does this by choice. He’s had near unlimited financial resources and still hasn’t signed a player to a huge contract. He values depth & flexibility and signing record breaking contracts take away from that. The Sox in this case would also be paying for star power, which helps offset the ridiculous $400M cost. The Dodgers aren’t able to realize anywhere we could from a Harper signing.

Friedman has never signed a free agent to a $100M contract with the Dodgers. Him paying close to $400M for Harper (an overpay on performance alone) does not fit his style. He can probably get slightly less production from Pollack for a fraction of the cost. Yes, Harper provides far more upside, but comes with huge long-term risks attached. I truly don’t see Friedman doing that no matter how badly the media wants to create that narrative.

To me, these Dodgers leaks are clearly coming from the Boras camp. Make the White Sox their their offer isn’t good and bid against themselves.

Well hopefully we use our newfound powers to embed some positive ones!

Paste as “plaint text” and it hopefully solves the problem!

Holy fuck it worked!?! Thanks Kyyle!!