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QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Feb 25, 2018 -> 09:01 PM) No. Do not give anything up for him when he can walk at the end of the season That is the counterpoint and a very legitimate one. Maybe I have too much confidence in JR's ability to sign a mega deal with a player like Machado or maybe I just want this guy on our team badly or maybe seeing Burgur's big azz running the bases scared me. Put Machado at third with the projected line-up we could have and the Sox start looking like a legit contender for a wild card in 2019.

Baltimore doesn't need Machado this season so I don't think they would be adverse to trading him. Maybe, just maybe, the Sox have enough decent prospects to make that trade without giving up (and of ) their top 5 or 6 prospects and impacting the rebuild. Perhaps it would take one of our roster players (Avi? Fulmer?) as part of a package for Manny. Once in the Sox fold, I think JR would be able to sign him long term. After seeing Burgur run out that triple like a fat-bottomed girl, I want the Sox to go after Machado like a beach.

I hate the cubs and the Ricketts but I do admire Epstein's formula - Draft great position players and then buy pitching. The Cubs hand was forced into that when the Astros foolishly selected Mark Appel with the first pick in 2013 Draft. Cubs would still be looking for the first modern day WS title for the franchise if Houston didn't make that mistake.

If the Rays are relocating in the central part of Florida, I would think Orlando would be better choice than Tampa.

I cannot get over the Sox losing Tatis Jr. in the Shields trade. I was mad about it when it happened and now it just irks the he11 out of me when I see it come up, like it did at Soxfest. That will turn out to be the worst trade in White Sox history.

I am anxious to see Burgur play some 3b in the minors so the Sox can determine if he can advance in the system at that position.

Margulus runs the SSS forum like a grammar school class where everyone has to kiss his behind.

QUOTE (fathom @ Dec 21, 2017 -> 10:45 AM) Can't believe Orioles didn't agree to trade Manny for Russell, Montgomery and Almora if that rumor is true Orioles want (at least) two pitchers back.

One year of Machado is not worth what the O's want. Their mistake is waiting to re-sign or trade him. IMO, the Sox would be wise to re-sign or trade Abreu and Avi before they get put in a similar situation.

The White Sox reportedly had the best offer. That might mean we are into the 72 hour window as we speak.

O's only have one year of Manny so they cannot expect the moon in return. I agree with everyone who has said that Kopech is essentially untouchable. Jerry is not getting any younger. He is a billionaire so he can afford a big Contract for Machado. You can bet that if the cubs did not have Kris Bryant they would be all over this. I don't want to trade Avi to get Machado. One of the goals in getting him would be to create a strong line-up with Avi, Abreu, Machado, Moncada, Tim Anderson, Castillo, Eloy Jiminez, Luis Robert.

QUOTE (SonofaRoache @ Dec 14, 2017 -> 12:28 AM) I'm not gonna lose sleep over losing Giolito when we have Rodon, Kopech, Lopez, Fulmer, Cease, Hansen, Dunning, 4th pick. We'll have money and the assets to get another pitcher as good as him if need be. It's almost impossible to acquire guys like Manny. You make a good point I did not think about which is, if the Sox trade Gio or Kopech for Machado, then they can sort of replenish by taking a starting pitcher prospect in the first round.

Would Abreu plus Avi G be enough to get Benintendi . Chavis,. and another prospect from BoSox? I don't think so, but thought I would ask for other opinions.

AJ is a winner, a student of the game, and would be a great Manager or broadcaster.

I believe the Yankees still have a formal grooming policy. Not sure about any other team but leaving the length of facial hair aside, Harper might not want to play for certain teams or Managers for other reasons. For example, the cubs fans and cubs media can be brutal. I just see Harper fitting in out on the West coast, possibly with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers or the Oakland A' s seem like the best fit for Bryce Harper's hair and personality.

Even the most careful analysis of advanced stats that support a regression theory cannot take into account the human element which can involve many factors ...attitude, injuries, conditioning and training, motivation, among others. In addition there are some players that seem to just figure things out at some point in their career. Some of those factors have been discussed, particularly with Avi's weight, conditioning, foot speed, and quickness. This guy was hauling to first base on ground balls last season and got to a lot of balls down the line and in the gap. I am excited to see him in RF with Eloy in LF. That could be two nice hitters in the corners for us over the next few years.

QUOTE (Eminor3rd @ Dec 5, 2017 -> 08:47 AM) In summary, my point is this: even if you grant Avi significant sustainable improvement, the numbers show that he is much more likely an average player than a star going forward. It’s certainly possible he can get even better, but it’s highly unlikely, so keeping him only becomes a good gamble if the trade offers are garbage. If we have an opportunity to get multiple decent prospects (not necessarily great ones), we should take it, because the more long-term depth and talent we put into this system, the better our chances to win in the next window. A guy who is 26 and hit .330 in 2017 will be an average player next season ? Avi is not going to regress to his former weight and poor physical conditioning. Unless he is foolish he will stay in great shape because he will be playing for the big Contract, knowing that could be enormous if he strings together a couple of good seasons. I don't want to discuss advanced stats. I watch most Sox games and have seen hundreds of his at-bats over the last few years. I recall that there were a few posters who thought Schwarber would put up better numbers in 2017 than Avi would...and no talk of regression about Schwarber - a tank in the outfield and a guy that struggled to hit over .200 most of the year. A .330 BA from a 26 year old player who keeps himself in great shape and is not a problem in the clubhouse? That's golden. No team is going to get him without including at least one elite young player or prospect.

How many players hit .330 over the course of an entire season during any time in their career? There is a lot of skepticism that is not tied to reality - reality in this case being a player who has improved his plate discipline, has lost a lot of weight and has greatly improved his physical conditioning. He looks quicker and no doubt has more flexibility with the weight ;loss. In addition, he has effectively countered the strategy of pitching him low outside pitches by anticipating those pitches and taking them to right field. I see a progression in Avi's power numbers when pitchers start abandoning that strategy and try to get him out on the inside part of the plate more. I would not trade Avi unless a no-miss blue chip prospect is included plus one or two more highly rated prospects. This guy is a stud...one of the best hitters in the league and he might only get better adding power numbers.

Well, whether or not Collins turns out to be a bust, I like the Castillo signing, but it makes me wonder how this player (and Abreu) fit in with the timetable for the rebuild.

The league should investigate the Tigers for intentionally losing/tanking . If found to be guilty of that the penalty should be a loss of their first round pick.

The winter is not any more brutal than the heat and humidity is in some places and add to that the snakes, reptiles, roaches and other super-sized bugs. How about Fall/Autumn in Chicago - a great season that lasts until around Thanksgiving, still about two months away. Too cold for you outside yesterday? I love football, college and pro., notwithstanding the Bears and the attempt to re-ignite the anti-Kaepernick sentiments from 2016. After the season is over , I will proudly wear my White Sox jackets and hats whenever weather permits. During the cubz playoffs I will buy and wear the hat of any team that they face. What really ignited anti-cub sentiment is watching how cub fans acted in Milwaukee toward the Brewer fans. I wish Detroit would go to the NL and that the Brewers would go back to the AL. That Cub/Brewer rivalry is too lopsided and has exposed the big market/small market chasm in an ugly way.

It is hard to rebuild when your first round picks include Rodon, Fulmer, Collins, and Burger.

Past performance and WAR numbers for prior years are irrelevant. As Stone pointed out today, Avi lost weight and is getting to a lot of balls he didn't in prior years. His batting average has improved and he has had a lot of clutch hits. Today, Avi had outfield throw that nabbed a guy at second and another one where the tag just missed. At this point, I would not trade Avi for Jason Heyward. I can't stand the Cubs or Heyward anyway. I hope the Sox resign Avi. I like that player would like him to be part of the core moving forward. An outfield with Avi, Eloy and Luis Robert would be nice.