Eminor3rd

This actually makes a ton of sense for the #barves, at least. Frees up playing time for Acuna while giving them short-term pitching depth that they can use to protect their still-pretty-raw upper level SP prospects and eventually deal at the deadline. For the Dodgers, I assume they save some money, tough I haven't taken a deep dive into the contracts.

Here's what I think is happening/is the strategy: Hahn sees Machado available for young pitching. White Sox, having such a deep farm now, almost certainly have some prospects/players that THEY think are overrated by consensus. He puts together a package of guys the Sox maybe have soured on but the rest of the industry won't catch onto for another half season or so, figuring that if he moves these guys for Machado, he can re-flip Machado for a different set of prospects at the deadline. Even if the "total value" of the return is similar or even a bit less than he paid, it could be a boon if he can get guys he likes better than those he gave up. That sounds like a "calculated risk" to me. And then, if he can extend him in-season instead, that's a bonus. But I can't believe they think an extension is anything more than a hail mary.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 15, 2017 -> 03:07 PM) Jeff Passan‏Verified account @JeffPassan 3m3 minutes ago More The consensus on Carlos Santana's $60M deal with the Phillies: It bodes awfully well for free agent hitters. Santana is four years older than Eric Hosmer. A seven-year, $175M ask no longer seems beyond the pale. Good news for Logan Morrison and other available first basemen, too. Does this increase the chance of an Abreu deal?^ I guess I'm the only one that thought the Santana deal was pretty team friendly.

QUOTE (shipps @ Dec 15, 2017 -> 04:30 PM) Maybe. But if he becomes a part of the momentum of a special team going into the season after next he may want to stay a part of that. Maybe. But if our rookies take a step forward, and our team over-achieves its way to 78 wins WITH Machado, while the Yankees clobber their division and enjoy a deep playoff run that could end in a title, which do you think is going to sound more fun? I think, in many ways, it may be easier to sell Machado on the potential of playing with our guys than to show him what it actually feels like. Because even if it feels good, it's going to feel like a lot less winning than some of his alternatives.

It's been rumored all offseason, but Seibu has apparently formally submitted the paperwork to post their righty specialist, the submariner Makita. He's 33-years old. He sits mid-80's and doesn't strike a ton of guys out, but he's a groundball machine who doesn't walk anybody and he hasn't posted an ERA higher than last year's 2.30 since converting to the bullpen. He threw ~80- innings of 1.60 in 2016. Former Rookie of the Year starter. Looked pretty good against the US in the WBC. And our bullpen is sadness. Great candidate for some under-the-radar value, IMO, whether it's as a trade chip at the 2018 deadline or a useful and affordable piece of the 2019/2020 contender squad. http://tv.pacificleague.jp/vod/pc/topics/l...apacifico/23131

QUOTE (SonofaRoache @ Dec 15, 2017 -> 03:14 PM) No one has said there wont be a battle. I'm not sure where you are getting that from. What we are saying is our odds go from probably 5 percent to 75 percent if he does like it here AND we pay him. If we wait for him to be a FA we have to hope he just really wants to be here for no apparent reason over other teams that are more attractive. You can increase your odds to 75 percent simply by being willing to top any offer. You don't have to give up any prospects.

If they make this deal -- whether or not it includes prospects or veterans, or if it makes sense or doesn't -- the Sox MUST be willing to offer him $400mm within the next couple months. Because the ONLY way he would EVER sign an extension in his walk year is if he thinks it's for more money than he can get on the open market. Even if he comes here and loves it, he loses nothing by waiting until free agency and seeing what other offers are there, which at the bare minimum drives the Sox price to market.

QUOTE (Blackout Friday @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 08:40 PM) Cody Asche just signed with the division rival Royals. We need to get Machado at all costs and answer back. Signature material.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 06:40 PM) Many seem to have not read the article as Nightengale said there's no chance the Sox would actually give Manny a huge contract And then he completely contradicts himself in the next sentence. Nightingale is a PR shill at this point. I don't know what the angle is on this whole thing, but to me, this isn't real until someone with a better rep says it is.

I think the White Sox are just playing Pricing Cop to make sure nobody gets him cheap. They're probably legitimately surprised that they're considered a high bidder.

The only way this makes sense to me is if Hahn is trying to pass off some damaged goods.

Yeah this makes no sense at all.

QUOTE (Ross Gload Fan @ Dec 8, 2017 -> 08:58 PM) I would easily take a chance on Brinson. He's still only 23 and was a 1st round pick. He did absolutely horrible in his time in the majors, granted it wasnt a huge sample size, so maybe the asking price wouldnt be too outrageous. Agreed -- but the only guy they'd want on our staff would be Rodon, I imagine.

I can't think of a worse avenue for the Sox to take this season.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 05:29 PM) Dude, Age 33-34 Miguel Cabrera had his OPS decline by .228. That name should scare you as much as Encarnacion gives you hope. Cruz, I will not count him as being on a normal aging curve since we know he juiced for some time. JD Martinez is younger than Abreu I believe. But we're not talking about $300mm. It's not scary when it's $20mm for a bad year or two at the end.

I'd give him 5/$90m right now and just start calling him the next Konerko. He can decline with us, that's fine. He'll be at least a useful DH all the way through that.

QUOTE (soxfan2014 @ Dec 6, 2017 -> 11:34 AM) You down there for work or something? Yeah, nothing sexy. I'm in marketing for a minor league team.

I'll be down there for the meetings -- anyone else going and want to meet up for a beer?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 05:47 PM) Craig Mish‏Verified account @CraigMish 4h4 hours ago SourceS : Full trade offer from SF to Miami for Giancarlo Stanton. Tyler Beede Heliot Ramos (1st noted by @JoeFrisaro ) Chris Shaw Christian Arroyo @jonmorosi had 250 mil 1st @clarkspencer had some combo of this deal also. That is WAYYYYYY too much. Wow

QUOTE (CaliSoxFanViaSWside @ Dec 4, 2017 -> 01:58 PM) If he ever starts learning the strike zone better and taking more walks the new Avi could be even better. http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/hotzones/_/.../avisail-garcia I think this is absolutely his Achilles' Heel and has been from day one. If he could fix his plate discipline, I'd jump onboard really fast.

QUOTE (steveno89 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 03:51 PM) The current free agent class for outfielders is not great with JD Martinez, Cain, Bruce and Gomez the top available guys. Garcia could be an attractive trade target under control for two more seasons? I think he certainly could, and I have no doubt Hahn is trying to find out what the appetite is. You could argue that Garcia is the most attractive option after the first two of those sign. It just comes down to how many buyers remain at that point.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 04:14 PM) Not trying to flame (you see I've been quiet lately), but your two sentences got me thinking. I wonder how many players you can say that about in terms of "regression." There will be regression? Hmmm. ... I'd say of all the players who hit over .320 and hit 25-35 home runs you can expect regression next season. Why do we rate our own so harshly? Anybody who had a GREAT season, expect regression. Give me a percentage. 80 percent of all guys expect regression? Don't eat your own. That's EXACTLY the point. It's not just Avi, and that's why we're bringing it up. It's an extremely well-researched pattern of results over decades. The point isn't to pick on guys, it's to temper our expectations and give us a realistic outlook when evaluating how our front office decides to treat its assets.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:22 PM) Longenhagen said the bat looks a lot slower now than it did when he signed. Not saying I don't wish we had him, but I can get down with not ruining next years plans to give him $2mm+ as a solid call. QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:24 PM) Sox are in penalty next year too. Nobody is an option unless it's for $300K Forgot about that, thanks.

QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:52 PM) A guy who is 26 and hit .330 in 2017 will be an average player next season ? Avi is not going to regress to his former weight and poor physical conditioning. You're welcome to disagree, man, but there are two or three pages with reams of researched reasons supporting the opposite side of the argument, and you're just popping in essentially saying "nuh-uh" without any evidence to support it. It's hard to take your stance seriously if you don't make a case. I'm not saying you're wrong, but you gotta defend it. QUOTE (miracleon35th @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 02:52 PM) I don't want to discuss advanced stats. I watch most Sox games and have seen hundreds of his at-bats over the last few years. Me too.

Longenhagen said the bat looks a lot slower now than it did when he signed. Not saying I don't wish we had him, but I can get down with not ruining next years plans to give him $2mm+ as a solid call.