steveno89

Stroman does not know anything about what is going on

Do not be so sure^ Currently there seems to be only 3 main bidders in the Sox, Yankees and Phillies. Teams are not going to bid against themselves, and teams are also smarter than they used to be regarding years and guarantees. Could Machado get 350? Perhaps, but I wouldn't bank on the numbers going as sky high as expected. Team would rather put relatively high AAV per year deals on the table, but shorten the length of the deal.

I could be wrong, but I do not necessarily see him getting that kind of a payday. 8/256 or something along those lines is hardly an offer to scoff at.

A short meeting can be a good or a bad thing. Machado is likely very familiar with the Yankees organization playing in the AL east for so long. Compare the money and years, present your pitch, and move on.

I'd like the Sox to look into guys like Clay Buchholz and Drew Pomeranz on one year deals with a club option for a second year. Could end up being quality prove it candidates for us?

While I agree the Sox should move towards trying to start winning games sooner rather than later, this is totally untrue. Look at the Astros, who mostly converted very high draft picks into star players like Correa, Bregman, Tucker (top prospect), etc. Cubs did the same with Bryant right near the top of the draft. While it is no guaranty, draft position does matter quite a bit.

I will believe it when I see it happen. It makes sense for the Sox to be the high bidder, but when they have not been able to sign a high profile free agent in 20 years it certainly gives me pause. Trying to sign and actually signing are two completely different things.

I am absolutely not saying the Sox signing either, or both for that matter is impossible. I am just saying I think the odds of signing either are lower than many fans on Soxtalk. The front office has to know the time to strike is now, but I just don't know if they are willing to outbid the field by enough to make it happen?

While the Sox have a seat at the table, I would still consider us to be dark horses for Harper/Machado for a few reasons. 1) We have yet to sign a free agent to a deal larger than Abreu's. There's a first time for everything, but I'll believe it when it happens. 2) Joining a rebuilding club vs. a contender is not an easy sell. Sox sadly play second fiddle to the Cubs in this town as well. We certainly have a chance at each player, but I am not as optimistic as most fans are about our chances.

This comes down to money. Pay me the most money and very strong chance the player signs with you. Simple. The media and front offices can spin things however they want, but that is pretty much what this boils down to.

Dunning + Basabe + Rutherford is a pretty strong package. I would think that absolutely gets you in a conversation about a cost controlled, quality young starting pitcher.

Hard to peg right now? I wouldn't say the chance is as high as 25% of signing both though. That is a ton of payroll space for two players.

Possible? Sure. Likely? I doubt it.

Swisher has to be up there. He was awful for us.

I would not read into this very much. Jimenez should be 100% for spring training, and then his several week AAA stint before he's patrolling the outfield in Chicago.

Sox and Phillies seem to be the only teams willing to shell out large offers to Harper/Machado, but we will see how this unfolds.

I can't see the Cubs being able to clear themselves of Chatwood's two remaining years, as he's closer to being released than traded. No MLB club is going to want a starter who walked 95 batters in just over 100 innings for the next two years.

Nothing much new to report on or discuss. Typically there will be activity the last two weeks of December as discussions remain ongoing

Harper is far more marketable than Machado, and makes a better face of the franchise. That doesn't mean I wouldn't really like Machado on my roster though

Whether a player signs now, or in a month really doesn't matter as long as you sign them. It's still the offseason afterall. Full rebuilds like the Sox take years, and we are still at least a full season, if not two, away from true contention.

Ditto Not going to happen. the MLBPA wouldn't allow it, and the current luxury tax acts as a de facto salary cap anyways.

Why though? There's nothing else really going on until spring training anyway. What would deadlines do?

If we don't get Harper I'd get over it. If we do not get Harper and the Cubs somehow managed to sign him it would sting for a very long time.

That is a risk we should be willing to take. Harper is a former MVP, just entering his prime. Sox have not splurged on a free agent in twenty years, the time is now.

Harper signs with the Sox = Vast majority of Sox fans overcome with emotion and joy, a franchise changing moment, huge for the city of Chicago There would still be a few fans saying we should have signed Machado instead, or that Harper wasn't worth the money blah blah blah