OmarComing25

I mean if that's your argument how is handing out the 4th largest MLB contract in history not throwing around big money?

Greinke is another good example

You really think him signing with the Padres is a good argument for why he's not elite?

Even when healthy he always fades down the stretch, which is why I didn't want him to come back as I don't see that getting better into his 30s.

I didn't really want him back, but obviously still not good news if another major FA is off the market.

I don't really mind the Sox setting a precedent for paying younger guys more, which should be happening anyway.

Same and it especially sucks because baseball is pretty much the only sport I really care about, I'm a casual fan of the other Chicago sports teams at best.

I just read that thread and damn you're right there were a lot of horrible takes there. I can't believe so many people are putting so much stock in 26 Spring Training plate appearances, such a stupid argument.

Even including the other rounds he's still probably top 5 from that draft.

Round 4, pick 124

Really feels like the only reason I’m still a Sox fan right now is because of Stockholm Syndrome.

Machado supposedly didn't want to play on the West Coast until the Padres offer was clearly the best. I think it's the same for Harper and Philly. He just hasn't gotten the offer he wants yet, IMO it's that simple. He'll go to the top bidder unless the offers are very close.

I feel they would almost certainly lose to a grievance claim if they did that, there's absolutely no way they could possibly justify keeping him down another season. Plus it's just a really scummy thing to do. Keeping him down this long already feels wrong. But this would be on another level. Are there any precedents of teams keeping guys down for two seasons after they're clearly ready?

I have a bad feeling that we'll end up throwing a lot of money at an already declining Bumgarner next year, I want no part of him.

It seems there's too strong a bias against Coors in HOF voting, just look at Larry Walker. His HOF chances were probably better if he went elsewhere and showed he could still hit. Really happy for the Rockies though, it's cool when stars stay.

What is he usually at? 89-90?

Hard pass on Sale next year. He already tends to break down/tire out at the end of the year, do you want to bet on that improving into his 30s for the money he'll command?

This makes me wonder about Flowers. He improved his framing drastically while he was here. Was it due to anything the White Sox did or was it more Flowers doing it himself?

He was at least right that the Sox don't need to overpay to bring in FA, 10/300 for Machado is not an overpay in the slightest and got it done. The big problem is that the FO somehow thinks it's outlandish.

When the Orioles do something like not invest internationally because they feel like it's exploitation that at least can be justified (and sadly that is probably not even on the radar for why the Sox haven't done anything big internationally until Robert). But not believing in opt outs? There's no justification for that whatsoever. Even if the Sox had matched the 10/300 or gone a bit above they would have rightfully lost out due to the lack of the opt out. I don't even know why Hahn/KW even bothered to try courting Machado if they knew they couldn't offer an opt out. Get with the times already.

Sadly probably 2006.

I don't know about that, I could easily see a scenario where the White Sox fudge a 35 year old Machado's playing time to ensure he doesn't get the required number of PA. This has happened plenty of times before to other guys and if I were Machado I would be thinking the same is likely to happen to me in the future. The SD offer was still better. Just guarantee the damn money.

Anyone see this? Apparently this guy scooped the Hanley Ramirez to Red Sox deal and the Stanton extension. Imagine if Trout signs before Harper/Machado.

This is why I don't like bWAR and prefer fWAR. By fWAR Moustakas was nearly a win better. DRS just gets too funky at the extremes.

Even if I really wanted to play for the White Sox, if I thought waiting could get me an extra $20-$50 million I'd easily choose to wait.