I think you're right about Harper and Machado getting opt outs, but I think you're wrong in looking at these contracts as 3 or 4 year contracts. What if one of these guys ends up chronically injured, like Griffey Jr., or just plain sucks like Heyward or Darvish? You're going to get saddled with the entire contract.

The fact of the matter is, the vast majority of the time, these mega contracts do not work out. It's really not worth the gamble, because whether they sign one of these guys or they don't, this team is only going to go as far as their young talent takes them.[/quote]

Why not offer him 3 to 4 years at $40 million as an alternative to the 10 year deal - just be the highest bidder on a short team deal? In the short-term, overpaying is fine. None of the young talent will be making any money, etc.[/quote]

I think that would be a fine strategy. I just don't think either Harper or Machado are going to take a deal like that.

Donaldson just signed for 23 million at the age of 33 coming off multiple years of injury. A 29 year old Harper and Machado will get their money[/quote]

Didn't Heyward have an opt out? He was the big money guy in his mid 20's a few years ago. He didn't take it. The Cubs are now stuck.

Or...in REALITY

You are hoping to approach the .500 mark and WE are hoping to win 92+ for a 5th straight season


Cmon, Frank. Dont make it that easy.

I actually agree, but they chose to bring back Hamels for 20 million.

The Cubs still have Rizzo making probably 1/3-1/4 of his market value. They have the funds if they choose to go after Harper.

_________________

I am sorry and do not mean to only pick on you but you heard Theo right? They do not have the money (either real or budget) to do this.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Nah, it's like the current Bears and Packers. Two franchises clearly going in the opposite directions now. Sox are the future, Cubs are the passed.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

And the Past.

Back to the status quo of lovable losers soon enough. They are already on their way, coming off of a second place finish and playing two extra October games.

_________________

Right. 5 straight 90 win seasons including a World Series win = loveable losers.

That's over, Frank. Im sorry, you're going to have to find another niche.

From here on out, The Cubs are Chicago's baseball team, the White Sox are the other guys. Both had ridiculously long title droughts but those are over now.

Although, the Sox are building another drought nicely.

Those are the facts.

I do hope the Sox can approach .500 next year, as i enjoy going to games on both sides of town.

So what?

I would hope that he wouldn't publicly state that the Cubs are flush with cash and looking to spend a shit ton on free agents. Especially when dealing with Scott Boras.

_________________

All this stuff about the Sox feeling good about their chances is typical Boras negotiation tactics. Whatever final offers he gets, he's going back to the Yankees with them.

There's no doubt. The White Sox are often used in negotiations because they are notoriously tight-lipped. But I don't think the Yankees can really sign him. They have to hope Stanton does better. They're a more likely landing spot for Machado.

_________________
General Jim wears Fort Bragg down... to get it!

There are literally 2 teams, that have the cash to sign him. Outside of that, a lot of Luxury tax money will have to be paid.

Harper is that lefty bat that would really work in their lineup. I think the hustle comments almost make Machado toxic for the Yankees. The NY media is just waiting for him. That said, I think they get one of them and try to get Kluber.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Not gonna happen brother. Handle it.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I think he goes to the Phillies.

It just is a pipe dream for the White Sox fans. First of all, Reinny is not going to pony up the money. Secondly, even if they magically sign Harper, they still have a huge way to go to become a good team. Their pitching stinks over-all. Their catchers are lousy. And even with Harper, their outfield will be below average. IF this team was even .500 last year, it'd be a different story. But this team lost 100 games last year. This is nonsense.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Pitching isn't far away and they've proved for decades that they can develop pitching. They need bats. A big bat is a great start.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Machado fills a hole. Harper does too but the Sox have 4 outfielders with high ceilings. Jimenez, Robert, Adolfo, and Rutherford. Seems to me if you have to pick between the two, it should be Machado.

The consensus at MLB Network Radio seems to be that Harper signs with the White Sox only if:

- The total contract value is over $400M, and
- Years 1+2 are both over $35M each, and
- There is an opt-out after year 2, and maybe another one after year 4 or 5.

I think that Jerry is more likely to sell the team to Harper than he is to sign him to that deal.

Harper to the Phillies, Machado to the Yankees.

_________________
"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

Reading these delusional Sox fan posts is comical, These Harper or Machado posts are dumb as Elmhurst Steve pondering Heyward opting out. No chance, none.

_________________

If he signs that type of deal with the Sox and he never opts out, they are completely fucked. I think this is a typical White Sox move of acting like they are interested in a high profile free agent and bid just enough to be in the conversation. But hey they signed Albert Belle 22 years ago!!

_________________

how fuckin naïve can you be?

_________________
I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Even though they totally have screwed up this pathetic "rebuild", the Sox have little choice other than to continue it and hope like hell that at least four of their can't miss prospects do thrive. Then and only then, can they even be serious about going after a top notch free agent. They ought to worry about getting a couple of players who are better than the slugs they had out there last year.

This team was an embarrassment last year and one mega million dollar player isn't going to fix it.

_________________
An Ode to the Texas man who shot an Antifa terrorist:

Oh, he might have went on livin'
But he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the Ranger
With the big iron on his hip

Yeah, I know it ain't gonna happen, but it is still fun seeing stuff like this:

We laugh but it’s about the only way to rebirth my beloved franchise in this town.

_________________
Elections have consequences.

Not Harper.

_________________
Be well

GO BEARS!!!

They are getting one of Machado or Harper.

_________________
Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?