MLB hot stove discussion 2018/19 off season

[DegenerateDish]

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
Source: #WhiteSox offer to Machado was 8/$250M (a higher AAV than he will receive from #Padres.  Total value of deal - with incentives and vesting options - could have been “well north” of $300M.

My note on them being maybe embarrassed had to do with something odd seems to have happened in the last 24 hours that left the Sox looking like they didn't know what was going on. If they simply got outbid and the Padres were just closing the deal, that's one thing, but the info and reactions out there look like the Sox didn't get to go back to the table or something along those lines.

[SaveOD238]

Interesting, talent continues to migrate to the NL. 

This is such a flip from a few years ago. Ten years back all of the talent was going to the AL.  I think it’s in part due to the existence of the juggernauts in Boston, New York and Houston.  Why spend money to bring in talent when toppling the big 3 is nearly impossible? 

It’s the same reason why all of the talent went West in the NBA for the last ten years, since LeBron was dominating the conference.  Now that LeBron is in the West and the Warriors are the dominant team, it looks like a lot of the talent is shifting back east. 

Kudos to the White Sox for trying to get Machado.  Just like all three NL divisions, the AL central is ripe for the taking as Cleveland tails off.  Too bad it didn’t work out.

[Jockey]

This is such a flip from a few years ago. Ten years back all of the talent was going to the AL.  I think it’s in part due to the existence of the juggernauts in Boston, New York and Houston.  Why spend money to bring in talent when toppling the big 3 is nearly impossible? 

It’s the same reason why all of the talent went West in the NBA for the last ten years, since LeBron was dominating the conference.  Now that LeBron is in the West and the Warriors are the dominant team, it looks like a lot of the talent is shifting back east. 

Kudos to the White Sox for trying to get Machado.  Just like all three NL divisions, the AL central is ripe for the taking as Cleveland tails off.  Too bad it didn’t work out.

I think the reason is pretty simple this time around.

The NL has only 2 teams that are tanking. Almost half the teams in the AL are trying to lose.

[rocket surgeon]

Chicos Angels fan patting Chicos Cubs fan on the back.  Nice.

was that really necessary?  and many wonder where the back n forth comes from

[wadesworld]

was that really necessary?  and many wonder where the back n forth comes from

Chicos’s “look at me!” Post was treated accordingly. I gave him the attention he was looking for.

[Cheeks]

Chicos Angels fan patting Chicos Cubs fan on the back.  Nice.

Sigh.  Whatever. 

[Lennys Tap]

My note on them being maybe embarrassed had to do with something odd seems to have happened in the last 24 hours that left the Sox looking like they didn't know what was going on. If they simply got outbid and the Padres were just closing the deal, that's one thing, but the info and reactions out there look like the Sox didn't get to go back to the table or something along those lines.

Now all we have to show for the pursuit of Manny is 13 million spent on 2 guys we didn't need. Kenny saying they were never going to 300 million was tantamount (IMO) to admitting they were never in on  Harper and only getting Machado if a JD Martinez situation developed. This was a perfect storm scenario for the Sox to prove they were serious about their rebuild. The White Sox should be embarrassed. #Epic fail.

[Pakuni]

Now all we have to show for the pursuit of Manny is 13 million spent on 2 guys we didn't need. Kenny saying they were never going to 300 million was tantamount (IMO) to admitting they were never in on  Harper and only getting Machado if a JD Martinez situation developed. This was a perfect storm scenario for the Sox to prove they were serious about their rebuild. The White Sox should be embarrassed. #Epic fail.

I actually think the Jay signing makes some sense regardless, but, yeah, Alonso looks not so hot now. Could be a decent trade piece come July if he reverts to form.
So where to the Sox go from here? I don't think they'll take that $250+ million and spend it elsewhere this year, but there are still some valuable pieces out there to be had.
I'd really love to see them make a run at Keuchel. They need another starter, he's been through a rebuild so he can mentor the younger arms and he's still at least a mid-rotation guy who would continue to help when the team is ready to contend in a couple of seasons.
And now that I've said that, they'll go sign Gio Gonzalez.

[DegenerateDish]

I forgot who I was listening to this afternoon, might have been Waddle, but what ticks me off the most as a Sox fan is this was the perfect storm for them to go big. They saved on payroll the last few years, their future payroll commitment is next to nothing, they have financial resources to go out and get a superstar, who at 26, plays a valuable position, while blueblood financial teams are sitting out the market. For 2 years internally they planned and marketed to go after him. The AL Central window has opened, he’d have been an anchor in their lineup as the kids came up. And at the end of the day, they lost, and it’s really hard to envision another opportunity for a player like this to hit the market with the bluebloods on the sidelines. They were going to have to get to a slightly uncomfortable salary number to get Machado, and all the time and effort they spent, they wouldn’t guarantee the number he wanted. Disappointing.

[buckchuckler]

This FO is ridiculous.  The we tried BS is completely asinine. 

I will enjoy watching Goldy on the Cards though.  I will probably be watching a lot of Cards games...

[buckchuckler]

I forgot who I was listening to this afternoon, might have been Waddle, but what ticks me off the most as a Sox fan is this was the perfect storm for them to go big. They saved on payroll the last few years, their future payroll commitment is next to nothing, they have financial resources to go out and get a superstar, who at 26, plays a valuable position, while blueblood financial teams are sitting out the market. For 2 years internally they planned and marketed to go after him. The AL Central window has opened, he’d have been an anchor in their lineup as the kids came up. And at the end of the day, they lost, and it’s really hard to envision another opportunity for a player like this to hit the market with the bluebloods on the sidelines. They were going to have to get to a slightly uncomfortable salary number to get Machado, and all the time and effort they spent, they wouldn’t guarantee the number he wanted. Disappointing.

You're not the only person I've heard say that, which makes the fact that he signed at a completely predictable number, that the Sox wouldn't approach, well it makes me question the sanity of the FO.  A perfect opportunity, and the did nothing with it.  Last time they missed out on big FA targets (Cespedes/Gordon) it turned out to be a blessing, maybe this works out the same, but I doubt it.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Saw 2 things on the tweeter today.

One was the Sox were willing to got to a potential of $350 mil with incentives for machado.  That was why they were surprised, their total potential outlay was more than the Padres.  (Think this was from an ESPN reporter. But honestly dont remeber.)

2nd, the only have around $15 mil in guaranteed salary for 2020.

[wadesworld]

San Diego, CA or Chicago, IL. Tough choice.

[buckchuckler]

San Diego, CA or Chicago, IL. Tough choice.

By that logic, every free agent should sign with the Padres. 

No big deal, all they need now is every prospect to pan out, and since they are great at scouting, drafting and development that should be a piece of cake...

Wait...what's that?  They suck at those things.  Huh.

[wadesworld]

By that logic, every free agent should sign with the Padres.

If they were offered $50M more in guaranteed money to live in SD? Yup, probably.

[dgies9156]

I will enjoy watching Goldy on the Cards though.  I will probably be watching a lot of Cards games...

ME TOO!

Watch out Cub fans, the Cardinals are coming.... and the white stuff on the Cubby Bear's back window, it's bird crap from a very angry redbird!

[🏀]

Feel for the WS fans.

Feel for Hahn. $300m was likely always the number, you signed his guys and probably had a Jordan contact ready to go as well. Literally the cornerstone to the AL Central crown and Jerry pulled the reigns back?

Also, why the hell was Kenny out talking at all? There should've been one response from Rick and that's it. Kenny needs to get the unnatural carnal knowledge out faster than GarPax. Hahn is the savant in a class of dunces on the south side.

[Lennys Tap]

By that logic, every free agent should sign with the Padres.

Yeah - Chicago might be behind San Diego, San Francisco, L.A, Seattle, Toronto and NYC but...

This is really bad news for Milwaukee, Kansas City, St Louis, Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Tampa, Miami, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, D.C., Minneapolis, Boston, Phoenix, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver and Oakland. 

[Lennys Tap]

Feel for the WS fans.

Feel for Hahn. $300m was likely always the number, you signed his guys and probably had a Jordan contact ready to go as well. Literally the cornerstone to the AL Central crown and Jerry pulled the reigns back?

Also, why the hell was Kenny out talking at all? There should've been one response from Rick and that's it. Kenny needs to get the unnatural carnal knowledge out faster than GarPax. Hahn is the savant in a class of dunces on the south side.

2005 was my fondest sport's memory after 1977. The one horrible side effect is that it meant a lifetime contract for KW. Many of the Scoopers who post on baseball would be better at his job than he is.

[🏀]

Yeah - Chicago might be behind San Diego, San Francisco, L.A, Seattle, Toronto and NYC but...

This is really bad news for Milwaukee, Kansas City, St Louis, Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Tampa, Miami, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, D.C., Minneapolis, Boston, Phoenix, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver and Oakland. 

Seattle and Toronto?

[🏀]

2005 was my fondest sport's memory after 1977. The one horrible side effect is that it meant a lifetime contract for KW. Many of the Scoopers who post on baseball would be better at his job than he is.

Yeah, but no one on here can rock those transition lenses like KW

[Lennys Tap]

Yeah, but no one on here can rock those transition lenses like KW

Fact.

[Lennys Tap]

Seattle and Toronto?

Have you seen real estate prices in those cities? Somebody wants to live there. Not me, but somebody.

[Pakuni]

San Diego, CA or Chicago, IL. Tough choice.

He's probably going to live in Miami during the offseason either way, so there goes San Diego's main advantage.
In terms exposure,, endorsement opportunities, not being in a baseball backwater, Chicago > San Diego 

Don't get me wrong, San Diego is great, but there are plenty of better places to be a professional baseball player.

[buckchuckler]

If they were offered $50M more in guaranteed money to live in SD? Yup, probably.

OK, well that is different than saying "San Diego or Chicago... tough choice."  isn't it?