FT35

There is a move towards "positionless" baseball...teams like Milwaukee are trying it. In some regards I think different positions shouldn't be difficult for these guys to play--I mean, shoot...they have been playing them all since little league, and they are pros--they should be able to play a position that is literally 20 yards away from their other position. But THEN I see stupid defensive mistakes being made--the nuances of the position being devalued or straight-up missed--outs being missed...all while effecting a player's plate production while they "learn" that new position. It's not as easy as people think it is. But if there was ever a reason and a year to shift people around a little...

Totally! It's brutal! But remember...the marketing target is always the casual fan. Does it draw in people that normally wouldn't be interested? Do more people think about baseball in the winter than without the drama? I really don't like it either, and I am not ready to say that it's an organized agenda coming down from MLB as much as it is the players trying to take advantage of the publicity. But I think MLB is somewhat OK with it because it gets people's attention on baseball-related content--and builds excitement for the new season.

They have the Winter Meetings now and that's pretty much it. The whole "free agent tour" concept is starting to creep in though. NBA is big on it but I don't know of a ton of MLB FA tours that have taken place say previous to the last couple of years. Personally, I think this is a fancy name thrown out to an event formerly known as a "meeting." Personally, I hope they find a more classy way of doing it than the NBA--which has become a huge self-promotion fest that only fuels the perception of a player's arrogance and love for ego stroking.

Kind of going out on a limb a little with this logic, but does anyone think some of this process is intended to create a little buzz for baseball in the dead of winter? The NBA really milks free agency to help bridge the off-season gap. We've got Free Agent tours, billboard campaigns, TV shows to announce decisions, letters written to fans, the back and forth drama, it's turned into reality TV. But you know...that first "LeBron watch"--when he choose to go back to Cleveland, really took the pro-sport spotlight away from baseball and kept the fan engaged and thinking about basketball over the summer. Just wonder if MLB is maybe taking a page from that same book by encouraging the process to drag on long enough to create a little drama to draw people in.

Bingo! I think we just got to the essence of why he hasn't signed yet--and what the hold up is.

I can see that...but if your agent does the dirty work and gets it down to 2 great offers from 2 teams, you'd think at that point, you'd ask the player "your call now."

It might if it's truly down to us and Philly!

I wish they'd stop treating players like they're eBay auctions. Stop the bidding war and ask the guy where he wants to play. You probably get a better version of Manny Machado if he's playing where he wants to be anyway. Maybe he would take the couple million generated by this "squeeze every last drop of $ out of the process" phase to end up in a place where he'll be happy--wherever that might be.

Dunn...smh...

I agree...not sure if there's a case where the Yankees are really "out" of anything--unless by their own choosing.

Not sure about this...maybe the only "known" official offer was in that 200 million range--as reported earlier. Who knows what it's been upped to now--if anything. I think this is the "report only what you know" version of language.

I think the sign is backwards there.

I mean...if we expected it would take 300 million each to sign these guys--600 total...and we were interested in both, as it seems to be the case...if we could get Machado for 240, then Harper for 275, you've got an extra 85 towards Kimbrel's 100???

Phones probably started ringing for his agent when the rumor of our supposed "best" offer being closer to $200M hit the air waves. That would open the door for a lot of teams to add a superstar of Machado's caliber on a long-term mega deal.

Only thing is...this was back when baseball was baseball and not a collection of metric-driven behavior. Nowadays, teams stack their best hitters at the top of the lineup to get them the most ABs. I don't think the Sox would prefer a lineup that gets Jon Jay the most possible ABs. Now if they decide to play baseball again, then I think we see him 1 or 2.

I mean...it sure seems like Rick has done his part and then some. Seems it’s up to Manny now! All kinds of love waiting for him here when that happens!

Oh they’re sweetening it...just In their own unique way.

I guess this means Harper doesn’t have any friends....

Yankees might also look at Machado a little differently than other teams. While he’s a world class player, the Yankees are ALWAYS in play for guys of his caliber—whereas with the Sox, these opportunities don’t come around often. If the Yankees choose to pass on Machado, they’ll just be more in the mix for the next available star free agent. It’s not now or never for them. Still think if I’m them, my next mega piece to add would be to the starting rotation over ANOTHER bat.

I agree. If we put $9M on an Alonso link to help our chances, think of what the Yankees would be capable of to enhance theirs...

Still think a 7-year deal benefits these guys. You get more $/year now, then you give yourself a shot at one more huge $ contract at age 33 instead of 36. By the time inflation kicks in, they will end up with a ton more than an extra 3 years of a front-loaded 10-year deal signed today would give them.

I’m kinda with you. Here’s what I think. $40M/year is stupid in terms of risk. If Machado somehow bombs, the Yankees are much better equipped to absorb that risk. Not saying he will bomb—just not the best business decision for us to put our own backs against the wall. Honestly—these guys are studs, but I think there are better baseball decisions out there and I think there are better baseball PLAYERS out there. If we miss on these guys, it will be heartbreaking for those of us needing hope in a faster rebuild...but $40M/year could buy you Arenado (who would rake in our stadium too) + another dominant bullpen piece or even a mid-rotation starter. They would have to overpay in an Arenado trade possibly this year—then resign him. But if they put as much into getting that done as they did going for Harper/Machado, they might just get a deal done. Admittingly, that plan would cost prospects AND money as opposed to just money...but it might be surplus prospects who are dealt and a LOT of money saved.

Still think it was just a win now signing. Indians were on the verge and thought EE would put them over the top. Not a mistake, just a very common move for a franchise in win now mode. If it doesn’t work out, you just have to get creative to work around it if your win now status changes—to smart franchises, that comes a little easier.

Only thing I can think of is something important to keep in mind through all this. If we sign Harper or Machado, that would completely alter the organization as we would immediately go from “rebuilding” to “win now” mode. Our prospects who we now view as our future team, would all be on the table to acquire win now pieces. Only the elite would be safe—Jimenez, Kopech, Robert (maaaaaybe Madrigal)—that might be it. Harper/Machado changes our lineup, sure, but it also immediately changes how we view everyone else and their future with us. IMO, trading a prospect for EE could only make sense if there’s a drastic philosophy change due to a mega signing.

No Ronald Belasario votes?!