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No, that’s not what I’m doubting.

I seriously doubt that.

So is the OP’s point.

You see none?

Agreed, but that is the point. Most teams that have paid out these monster contracts on one player have not spent enough or developed enough elsewhere to make it worthwhile. Whether they could afford to or not is another matter, but unless you are prepared to make a large luxury tax payment, paying one player that kind of money is likely not to work.

It is worth noting that each of the three players you mention did not/have not gotten anywhere close to winning an AL pennant, let alone a World Series, with the team that signed them to his monster contract (Texas, in the case of ARod, LAAAA in the case of Pujols). That's why I don't get all bent when the Sox don't get crazy like that. With that said, I believe Machado is worth the risk, Harper less so.

Your definition of bullshit seems to be something not to be believed, while I understand bullshit to mean something that is not true being presented as true. As I understand it, Hahn is bullshitting us if he knows that they won't try to sign someone like Machado (whom he didn't mention, by they way). It is not bullshit if he sincerely wants to try and knows that ownership will support that effort.

This.

It is their job. Plain and simple.

QUOTE (BlackSox13 @ Jan 11, 2018 -> 12:00 PM) https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/jd-m...cks-latest.html With a lack of reported interest in Martinez, I wonder if Boras convinces to DD to bid against himself. Isn't that kind of what happened with AZ and Grienke? Well, DD has done it before with the Ordonez signing. I wonder if Boras will go into mourning if DD retires before he does.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 15, 2017 -> 10:22 AM) This trade concept only makes sense if you think the organization can know which ones will work and which ones won't. Edit: Oh and I'm really down on Rodon if that counts. No organization knows that. Every organization guesses wrong in either direction on a number of prospects.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 12, 2017 -> 10:00 AM) There is risk Abreu falls apart. Risk he plays well for 2 meaningless for the team, seasons, and leaves for more money. A year ago, even on May 1st, people would have loved to dump Abreu for a guy of JBJ's ilk. Now, some are questioning if even a guy like Devers is enough. I am one of Jose's biggest fans, but like the Dodgers used to say, it's better to trade a guy a year too early, than a year too late. Now is the time unless you are willing to pay him for his declining years, and not complain. From what I've seen of Abreu and Bradley, I'd much rather take the risk on Abreu for the next 2 years and maybe beyond. But I'm also among those who were never high on Bradley to begin with. I also have the benefit of working with a few Boston fans. They would break open champagne bottles if they got Abreu for Bradley as a headliner in a trade.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Dec 11, 2017 -> 05:34 PM) He does for at least one season if not 2. Th fact is, if he bounces back to his 2016 level, you could get a ton for him in a year. The White Sox have always been quite fond of him. It is interesting Jose Contreras has been added to help Latin players assimilate. Maybe he will be more geared toward minor leaguers, or maybe they are preparing to fill the void Abreu would leave behind. It's the "if" part of your statement that would make it a risk. An unnecessary risk at that.

QUOTE (Username @ Dec 11, 2017 -> 06:01 PM) JBJ really screams Austin Jackson to me. The swing and miss profile, plus general hot and cold nature give him some serious long-term hitting risk. Plus, if his athleticism starts to slip at all, I’m not sure he can maintain his value without hitting markedly better. I know he’s only 27, but defense-first center fielders don’t exactly age well. Of course, guys like this also sometimes become George Springer. The problem is, he’s clearly not a natural hitter if you watch him. His swing is kind of clumsy and he seriously struggles with offspeed stuff. Every Red Sox fan I know can’t stand him, as he tends to beat up on bad pitching and disappear against anyone with good stuff. This is my assessment as well. I see a lot more of Bradley than most Sox fans since I live in DC and watch Baltimore games. IMO, what you see is what you get, and that is not nearly good enough to trade our best hitter when he still has a few productive years ahead of him.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Dec 11, 2017 -> 01:48 PM) Why can't we take on JBJ and try to flip him later? If our scouts believe he's closer to the hitter he was in 2015/2016 (wRC+ of 120ish) than last year (wRC+ of 90), then he's seems like an incredible buy low type guy. I would most definitely need a secondary piece that offers some long-term potential like Chavis, but a deal like this could make a ton of sense for us. Again, got to trust your scounts on this one. Why should we be the team to take the risk on JBJ?

QUOTE (GreenSox @ Dec 10, 2017 -> 01:05 PM) Bradley is controlled for only 1 more year than Abreu. Red Sox have an alarming lack of power. It's a more a question of why the Whitesox would want to trade Abreu for Bradley. Exactly. Abreu is clearly the better player and nothing either player has done throughout their careers suggests that will change in the next 2 years.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Dec 7, 2017 -> 01:08 PM) I am just going to say it. This is Exhibit A in the case that messages boards do not make good General Managers. I nominate the above for post of the week.

QUOTE (cjgalloway @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 05:54 PM) I agree with all 3 of your assumptions with those players.. My problem is that all 3 of those with those projections are more valuable than 2 seasons of abreu. That's 3 major leaguers. I'd expect something like Flaherty and Bader and that's about the top end but not all three.. Hopefully I'm wrong obviously lol That's 3 potential major leaguers, none of whom have shown to have any of the promise that 2 years of Abreu gives a team now. Since the Sox are under no pressure to trade Abreu, any trading partner should make it worthwhile for the Sox to do so. Three maybes who have failed to play up to expectations so far is not worthwhile in my book.

Yawn.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ May 10, 2016 -> 04:58 PM) Daryl Van Schouwen ‏@CST_soxvan 10m10 minutes ago First time ever Melky Cabrera ejected last night. Said he told Laz Diaz, "you are a bad umpire. Those pitches were balls." On a Nats forum, there is some discussion about how bad Diaz is.

QUOTE (pettie4sox @ May 10, 2016 -> 11:18 AM) Avi has always been mental, I don't think anyone thought otherwise. Yep. He has taken awhile to get going. One of the differences I see now is that he is driving the ball to all fields, so he is not trying to pull outside pitches and he is turning on inside pitches. His swing and approach are much more confident than I've seen in previous seasons. I think we fans tend to underestimate what missing most of 2014 did to hinder his development. If he sustains consistency, I eventually would like to see Melky bat #2 and Avi bat #5. If he maintains his power stroke and high OBP, I think #5 is his natural spot in the lineup on this team.

QUOTE (chitownsportsfan @ May 10, 2016 -> 12:16 AM) And like 4 fWAR. It would be a very "three true outcome + defense" 4 WAR year. Joe Crede style really. A rich man's Joe Crede at that. Being here on the East Coast, I went to bed after the top of the 10th. In the three previous years when I had to turn off the game before it ended, I went to bed expecting to see a loss when I woke up. With this year's team, I was optimistic about seeing a win and not surprised to see it. Was only surprised at the final score.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ May 9, 2016 -> 10:22 PM) Rollins has made some huge plays this year, you guys gotta lay off him a little. Yes, he has.

QUOTE (Alexeihyeess @ May 9, 2016 -> 01:01 PM) Boston? You dont really think David Price is going to keep sucking like this (he wont, all his peripherals suggest a big correction). Wright isn't great, but he's not bad either. Porcello has bounced back after a s***ty 2015. Buchholz sucks, I know, but the Red Sox at least have an average pitching staff. I would say the Mariners and Indians fall into that category as well, though their offenses arent on Toronto or Boston's level. Would you say Buchholz is a 3? I know some Boston fans who would tell you no, and not that politely.

QUOTE (GREEDY @ May 9, 2016 -> 12:27 PM) That is why i am kind of shocked that KW/RH didn't get '17 options on both Jackson and Latos. Sure, it might have costed a little more money on the books for '16 (who really knows) but it would be really nice to have about an 8mil option on both players... especially considering that this offseason it appeared the Sox were still kind of on a two-three year plan. Unfortunate to see the Sox gamble on both players, giving them opportunities that likely didn't exist elsewhere, possibly have them come through, and then as a reward have to give them 3 year deals if you want them back. It could be that the Sox outbid other teams for Jackson and Latos only because they were willing to forego an option on those players. Both players are under 30 and theoretically still within their physical primes, so each player probably considers it a worthwhile gamble to take a one-year deal at this point, especially Jackson as a position player at a premium defensive position.