Jose Abreu

I agree. Say the Sox sign Harper, 10/375. Say that for that entire contract, Harper doesn't opt out and slashes .250/.350/.500. Probably would be underwhelming, but .850 OPS production from a left-handed hitter is still good. Is it $37.5 million AAV good? No, it isn't, and that's why having a marketable player, perhaps the marketable player of baseball, is so important for a team like the White Sox, who play second fiddle to another organization just a few miles north. I don't have enough data at my disposal, nor do I have proper knowledge of each and every factor that Harper would affect, but I would be willing to guess that what we'd "lose" in overpaying for the above production, we would more than gain (from an economic perspective) in increased exposure leading to higher attendance, ratings, jersey sales, and so on. If I were Jerry, I would even consider offering him something crazy like 12/460. The effect such a signing would have on our team would be absolutely crucial from an economic standpoint, and I'm sure the FO realizes this. He doesn't even need to be good. The bright side is that he probably will be great, and better than the slash line outlined above.

If we're using Instagram as clues, Nicky Delmonico just liked a couple comments about recruiting Harper

I'd guess a trade of Bryant would give them a chance to sign Harper, since they obviously wouldn't need to worry about extending Bryant anymore?

Luis Robert is gonna have an Acuna-like rise in the minors. I thought it would happen this year but he couldn't stay on the field. If he stays healthy next year, he'll be knocking on the door of an MLB promotion by August (and will receive the promotion on or around April 15, 2020).

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-hot-stove-what-to-make-of-the-white-soxs-apparent-push-for-bryce-harper-at-the-united-center/

Reports of a Michael Brantley jersey on the Jordan statue.

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1648359

That's why I'm waiting for the Hawks game to actually start getting excited about a meeting. If he's there, surely people will take pictures.

If he really was spotted working out downtown, at the Hawks game tonight, etc. then I'd be willing to bet that he has a meeting with us tomorrow or this weekend.

Yeah I don't think they actually met today but I do think Harper is in Chicago. Maybe they're meeting tomorrow/this weekend.

Harper is reportedly in Chicago and was seen working out at East Bank Club. There are rumors that he's attending tonight's Blackhawks game too. And this is from a United Center employee:

It's because they've had them as guaranteed Yankees/Phillies players for a couple years now. They don't want to be wrong. Nightengale literally reported back in March/April that Manny Machado will sign with the Yankees. He has a lot on the line, I guess

Good, that actually is better to me than him mentioning us. He has really taken a sharp descent in the past couple years.

Damn, really? Wow, I guess the Sox should quit trying then, because numerous people said for various reasons that he won't be coming here. What a shame.

In that same post, in the comments, he says, "if we sign Harper he can have [34]. I'll just pay for him to get that tattoo as well. I feel that's only fair."

I'm sure his dad got in trouble/fired for that being leaked to the public. WhiteSoxDave said he confirmed with a United Center employee that it was real.

Kopech said on Instagram the other day that he's more than willing to give the number up to Bryce

Kind of a misleading title, no? I assumed this was Rosenthal or Morosi, not some random kid with zero track record.

Derrick Rose is still good

Jesus christ

He should really make that first one more clear then because he'd be without a starting catcher and second baseman

I love the people who come in this thread with the "I'm smarter than all of you who have actually been paying attention to what the Sox have been doing" approach and then end up saying something that just makes them sound ridiculous

Yeah if this is really the main selling point of their "big presentation" then there's no way Manny's coming here.

Seems like a huge regression candidate and huge overpay candidate to me but hopefully the price is lower than I think.