tray

Eloy can hit the baseball. I'm all for signing him now, just like the Sox gambled when they signed Abreu for 68Mil. Lock him up, lock him up, lock him up. Then start print Eloy jerseys, sell some tickets, and promote our future Star. Get the party started.

Once again, post a link with a report that even suggests that Lozano came beck to the White Sox and asked them to match SD's offer. If he did, why were KW and Hahn so surprised when that deal got done under their noses?

Lozano used the Sox to leverage a deal to get Machado and his wife to the town they both wanted to live in. Hahn got played,, but given all the pressure from fans, I can't blame him for trying. It is what it is.

This is how I understand the final negotiations went: " The White Sox made their last, best offer on Monday night: a 10-year deal worth $250 million guaranteed, plus incentives. If Machado hit all the escalators, he could max out at $350 million. A few hours earlier, the Padres had submitted theirs: $300 million, 10 years, opt-out after five. Fowler tried to sleep but couldn’t. He called Preller around 11:30 p.m. “Where are we?” he asked. Preller said there hadn’t been an update in a while. Maybe he was leaning the other way. Fowler told him to re-engage Lozano. :" Lozano accepted that offer which only guaranteed 5 years at $150. Was that deal offered to the White Sox? I don't think it was. and then this from Machado's mouth: " "I'm truly blessed to be here. I'm truly blessed to be a part of this organization," Machado said. "Since day one, since we met you, we knew it was the right fit for me and my wife to be here. We're very excited to be here and start this new journey of our baseball career, our lives -- to take on that San Diego weather and take on this team."

How about a link that proves that Lozano came back to the Sox and offered them to match SD's Offer ? I'm asking because I never saw that reported anywhere.

I wish fans would stop blaming JR/KW/RH for not signing Machado. The dude wanted to play in SD. plain and simple. There are no reports that I am aware of that suggest that Lozano came back to the Sox, asked them to match SD's Offer, and JR refused. Eloy can hit. If he plays 1st base or even is a DH, I want to see him signed long term. Get 'er did.

Ernie Banks played shortstop. Babe Ruth Pitched. Extreme examples but you get my point.

I look at the Offer for Jose Abreu, an unproven Cuban player as being somewhat analagous. I give JR / KW / RH credit for the Abreu deal. He has been a bright spot on this team since he was signed. I know, I know, this is not exactly the same situation. Consider though that while Eloy has not played in an official MLB game, he has faced MLB pitchers. Also the Sox have watched him closely since he was traded to us from the wrong side of towners This would be a ballzy roll of the dice even by Vegas standards. Using the Vegas analogy, maybe double down if this looks like it worked.So, assuming Robert rakes in the minors, comes up and rakes in the majors, and the thumb is no longer an issue, perhaps a long term Offer could be made to him at some point. This could be a legitimate, albeit risky way to build a solid core for a rebuild . You risk a lot of money by signing the best young prospects/players to long term deals knowing they may never live up to their billing. On the positive side, if it works, you have a core of young players signed to long term deals, and as a result, you have a much better idea what the roster and the budget will look like moving forward.

aye, yie yie.

Phuck Phegley.

Moncada playing good D at third and hitting is fantastic. Gio reminds me of Brandon McCarthy back when we had him in 2005. However, I think Gio might get stronger and better than McCarthy. I for one will remain patient with Gio.

I am disappointed that they sent Madrigal down. I know he had no chance to come up with the team but I just wanted to see him play in several games to get a better sense of what his potential might be. I'm less interested to see Alonzo, Jay, Castillo, Leury Garcia, Palka, Ddelmonico, Engel..guys that are just placeholders during another tank year or maybe two.

Jay and Alonso to Marlins for Avisail Garcia and prospect. Sorry for the sarcasm today..

Sox may have one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball this year. I think it could get ugly by mid-May. If so, then perhaps consider bringing up Eloy. Robert and Madrigal by end of May and let them learn on the job. That unconventional move might also keep some fan interest and sell some tickets. I hate this blow-out. You should never allow a crosstown rival to humiliate the opposing team, not even in ST.

Chryst....9-0 and Cubz still batting with a man on third.... in the second inning.

Some fans were not satisfied with Avisail Garcia's defense in RF. OK, but Palka in the OF is a complete joke. That makes his value on the 25 man roster questionable. If the Sox play him in the outfield he could run over a Centerfielder or an infielder and really cause problems. Recall Schwarber's outfield collision a couple years ago, and he wasn't near as heavy as Palka. I'm OK with Palka as LH DH ....if there is room on the roster for a player in that limited role.....or on my 16" softball team.

I also saw the game and meant to word it that way....he hit a grand slam home run AFTER his hand was injured in a slide earlier in game. That is what made it even more incredible. This guy is the real deal, maybe better than Eloy.

Robert broke his hand is ST last season on a slide....after he hit a home run in a prior plate appearance. He has prodigious power and speed. Yea, I have heard that bringing players up too soon supposedly ruins them for life, but I mostly disagree with that. If a player is talented, he will rise to the level of competition. So I am not one who believes in wasting youth away especially for players that have his level of talent. The age window for major league players to operate at their prime seems like it is shrinking. If Luis Robert looks this good throughout the Spring and early on in the Minors. I'd bring him up with Eloy as a pair after the Super 2 qualification is no longer applicable. Yes, I think Luis Robert is that good. We have a super star or two in the outfield with Eloy and El Pantera.

You mean Moncada's "natural position" is at second base where he led the league in errors? Madrigal is going to be great at second and now Moncada is no longer in his way. Machado is a POS who could quickly have become a cancer in the clubhouse and a pariah across the league as a dirty player. Let's not pretend that this guy was going to be a model citizen in Chicago and a team leader.

On the glass half full score, I look at the Machado transaction this way - Ok we didn't get Machado, but we have Moncada at third... plus a couple of hundred million dollars of headroom to sign other players moving forward.

If Harper doesn't want to play for the Phils and LA does not want to go 8 plus yrs on a contract, the Sox might be back in this juego.

If Bryce never intended to play Philly, then Philly just got used for leverage...just like Hahn did with Machado....well not quite that bad. IF LA signs Harper, I would guess that the Sox could get Joc Pederson without giving up too much.

"Remember, this team has been garbage for 118 years. As once again evident below. It sucks to be us. " Speak for yourself. I have been happy and proud to be a Sox fan all my life and always will be. I am very excited for Spring Training and the baseball season ahead. If you can't enjoy watching baseball unless you root for the team that wins the World Series, find a new pastime.

Cubs got lucky when Houston picked Mark Appel at no. 1 and Kris Bryant fell to them at no. 2. They got lucky when they got Rizzo. Luck plays a huge role in sports. Cubs were purchased by mega billionaire Joe Ricketts and they threw hundreds of millions at free agents. Money plays a huge role in sports. I'm not going to let a few downers who for years keep throwing the Cubs in our faces impact how I feel about my team.

southsider2k5 You're such a self-righteous downer..