raBBit

I think people should take the Dodgers more seriously. They have the most money of any team, they have the most creative front office, they have money to move associated to players that are good (Hi Cubs!) and they are conceivably Harper's preferred location. Plus they came up short of the trophy just barely to years in a row. They have all the depth a playoff team could need, now it's time for them to shed some of it and make way for another premium talent. Perhaps the hold up is they want to rid themselves of Matt Kemp and another productive player as opposed to 2-3 productive players and keeping Kemp on a team where he doesn't fit.

God Theo Epstein is on a short list of best sports executives ever but it is hilarious that he did not learn from him his mistakes in Boston. He really blew his wad the wrong way following the WS.

Wait until you know who wakes up.

This would make sense because the cap hit the Dodgers take on is the AAV of his contract. For easy number, if he took a 10 year, 350 million dollar contract, they can pay him 45M a year years 1-3 but the affect on their cap would only be a $35M hit per year. I believe I am interpreting the rules correctly someone correct please me if not.

Corbin got roughly $30M more than expected and Phillies rotation isn't exactly needing too much help. He's also a 30 year old pitcher. Harper and Machado are 26 year old mega stars. They're a different market. A Phillies fan can point to the White Sox being outbid on Familia as a rationale to having doubts on the Sox chances with the stars. I think you would disagree with that preposition though.

I don't know. To me, it's more likely he knows what the Dodgers have to offer, knows they have some work to do, and is just waiting for them to get to the point where they can finish the deal. He can also leverage the Cubs as an option in the imaginary world here they can get rid of Heyward's contract.

He didn't eliminate the Sox. Have you seen anyone say that in the media? The Sox aren't going to say "we're out on Harper" because they technically aren't but more importantly, they don't want to affect the Machado pursuit or make them seem desperate. Neither the Sox nor Boras Corp benefit from the the idea that the Sox are out on Harper. That's why there's just been silence ever since late last week.

I think if the Phillies stayed out of all this the Sox would set the market on both players. I have no idea what the Phillies idea of crazy is though. I think the Sox would be under them but likely a more desirable location as well. Phillies had such a chip on their shoulder coming into the offseason and the bar was set so high. Coming home without either of them would be a pretty big letdown. The Sox internally have had the same plan as Phili for over a year. They just didn't get all the media hullabaloo that Phili did because of their past spending history (and rightfully so.). This jump into the pursuit of the top free agents wasn't some sudden foray. They've been planning for this for some time.

It's pretty obvious Boras used them as a pawn. I was pretty pissed about it but I guess I am just "negative." That whole presser he did at the WM where he used hypothetical that all applied to Sox was such a coordinated crock of shit. The guy's incredible at his job for a reason but it still stings.

Hell, most teams in the NL West will play over 100 games in Cali. Home is home though. Marketing opportunities, winning and proximity to family can definitely bridge that gap though.

You're not wrong about a lot of this but the Sox internally don't like their chances. That's more than just mediaplay.

There was some report about a team not meeting with them. Might have been then can't remember. I think Phili knew early that they're out of it. I think Boras is keeping the Sox around as a threat but Sox know they don't have a good shot. Harper prefers the Dodgers. Then there is a mystery team that is either the Braves or the Padres. The former has been reported a bit the last few days and the latter makes a little more sense. All in all, my money is still on the Dodgers.

Phillies gave up on Harper. That's why I worry about them getting crazy with Machado.

A good point.

My "little baby fit" on twitter prompted plenty of people to reconsider their own thoughts and prompted plenty of discussion. Your 2 week long hissy fit on SoxTalk where you have been enabled to dominate the discussion around the White Sox being involved on two prized free agents will cause posters to leave the site and never come back.

Yup. Pushing people to Twitter full time.

If only my info about the Sox was a snapshot of a facebook comment in a group with thousands of people.

I have reported more about the White Sox than anyone who is not paid to do it. I have time stamps. You are giving me shit for having a New York Times Best Selling author who wrote a book on the White Sox on a podcast. You are also an internet troll who's opinion has never once been lauded or quoted or requested but it has always been tormented. Have a good night.

I will wait to see if the personal attack rules are enforced before responding.

Really?

I think Harper is Dodgers and a mystery team. Maybe the Padres. At least they're the team that would make most sense to me. Prospect depth is insane so they are insulted if they allocate significant % of payroll to one player, they're West Coast, they're in a similar position as us if not a year behind, etc. Given the way the market has acted on the Harper front, my guess is the Dodgers and Harper have a tentative agreement and the Dodgers have to move some money in a baseball sense and maybe in a business sense as well. I think the Phillies can get crazy. Maybe crazier than the Sox. I would like our chances as far as Machado's preference if money is the same but I am guessing. From the start of this it is the Yankees that decide whether the Sox/Phillies are in play here. Perhaps they already have.

No one said that.

I am not sure I can speak in this new peavy44-chillijoecool SoxTalk world, but I think there is a clear difference between the White Sox and Yankees motivation to sign Machado. I am confident Machado likes the White Sox more than he would've thought coming in. I am confident the Sox clearly beat the Yankees offer. To me, the Phillies are still a big variable. Past that, his desire to play for the Yankees - what is it worth to him? I imagine a contract with say, 2-3 more years and similar AAV's would be enough for him to buck his lifelong dream - hypothetically. You are reading that correctly.

I think your numbers here will end up far more desirable than what Machado actually signs. It means absolutely nothing. Harper probably follows multiple guys on plenty of teams. It seem he's not coming here.

Lol chili now quoting reddit LARPS