SCCWS

Agree. Often a SS is the best overall athlete on a team.

I think he would increase attendance by 4-5,000 because the team would be more competitive and stay in WC race till late summer.

These are two great opportunities but if they lose out this year, then hopefully next year they can get a few sharks instead of a whale. If we don't get either Machado or Harper, maybe Eloy turns out to be a whale and Hahn spends the money next year filling holes. But fire Kenny now and if the roster is no better after 2019, fire Hahn.

Not sure where you heard those rumblings but I haven't seen any. Chris Sale really seems to stays out of the spotlight in New England. This article popped up last month: Sale is open to extension talks, sources told NBC Sports Boston, with indications that he is more open to those talks than most players of his caliber would be when sitting just a year away from free agency. It’s unclear if there’s any movement on that front yet, with one team source noting that extensions generally brew later in the offseason. Now there are rumblings Betts will eventually test the open market. https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/could-healthy-chris-sale-be-candidate-contract-extension

Saw a piece yesterday that the two agents are also rivals and neither wants to give in first. Not exactly the best thing for their clients it would seem.

I am not looking at the defensive side. He was switched to 3B in AA for the last 10 games and he struggled. He then struggled in the field, w the bat and even had a couple of big mental mistakes when he was called up. Immediately after the trade, Hahn came out and said he was moving him back to 2B. You can guess why. Then after this season, Moncada said he hopes to stay at 2B and Hahn said he finally looks comfortable playing the position. If he did not have offensive issues, a move to 3B makes sense to me. But until he seems comfortable at the plate, I think another change in position may have a negative impact on his overall mental approach.

I don't like to jump too far ahead, but is it a given Moncada is the better choice over Anderson to move to 3B. Moncada's brief stint in Boston at 3B was not successful.

FWIW---Last winter, JD Martinez was rumored to be signing w the Red Sox for quite a while. But it didn't become official to late February. He was a Boras guy.

Agree w are desperate for Manny but does he want to play for us? Only time will tell.

Maybe the White Sox are also closing down the upper deck like the Rays.

Corbin is also 29 so maybe he went in feeling this could be his last shot at big money so the 6 years as well as the $40 sold him. We will soon find out what will sway the big 2. My concern is a star hitter may want protection in the lineup so he has a better chance of producing. Will getting the biggest contract be a deciding factor for Machado or Harper since some superstars have such a big ego? If money is the deciding factor, what cities/teams offer the best endorsement deals? Does either prefer playing for a winner versus going to a rebuild? I would think the agent wants every buck they can get for their pockets so they may try and sell the contract over the location. I think way back, Machado said he preferred East Coast. Was that true? Does the ballpark .roster, coaching staff etc. have any affect. Do their wives care and if so do the players care what their wives think? Has JR asked Michael Jordan to speak to both to show that a superstar can thrive in Chicago? Have either talked to Chris Sale about uniforms?

FWIW---Longtime beat writer Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe is usually a pretty good source on baseball. He does not list the White Sox as finalists for either Machado or Harper. Otherwise he has a lot of baseball stuff in today's Globe. https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/12/29/baseball-top-free-agents-this-year-and-beyond/a538V444ifBDiTkVE3BNjI/story.html

I don't see them leaving Chicago. Maybe moving in the fences w a short right field porch for Harper and a short left field wall for Machado.

HUH????

As opposed to partially signing with us?

Just don't use the current 10 year cycle. Over the last 10 years, the White Sox have not made the playoffs. Phillies have 3 times w one WS and Yankees 7 times and 1 World Series. Now maybe you tell Manny that is because we didn't draft him.

Unless they have pictures................

There we go. KW never gives up on a player he wants.

Agree, unless he is doing it for show. We should know the answer by end of January.

Not sure where you live, but I live in Red Sox territory and I think most fans think Kelly is just another bullpen arm. Kelly's fan popularity comes from rm his history of protecting his teammates by retaliating when Red Sox battews have been hit. But pitching wise , he is a typical up and down reliever. Not many complaints on sports radio today about his departure. I would have like the White Sox to sign him since he would add some character to their vanilla look these days.

They won't want Yolmer since they already have Holt. I know he has health issues but I still like Jones. I would guess we would have to give up prospects which might be counter-productive. Red Sox look pretty set except for bullpen and maybe a young SP. JBJ is probably a Theo pick so Cubs may have interest.

No, I am sure they will want a return. But remember they are juggling 4 outfielders in 3 positions w Martinez bouncing between OF/DH. Betts is also an above average defender who could move to CF but not a Bradley. I can see them moving Bradley especially if they have another outfield prospect on the horizon.

I don't agree. If he played SS this year and liked it he will make the decision before he signs. If he has changed and will play either, then the team can decide. I don't think any team is going to blow him away w money vs the competition so he will probably choose a team based on his desire. There is no way any team will pay that money only to find out he becomes a disruption.

Agree but he is penciled in as a Number 4 starter. Unfortunately the rich get richer. I would assume they take out a LLoyd's policy to protect their investment.