The White Sox are a “strong factor” in the market for star infielder Manny Machado, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). Attention has in recent days focused on the Padres, but it seems it’s still a multi-horse race, with the Phillies also known to be in the picture as well.
It isn’t terribly surprising to hear that the Chicago organization still factors into the discussion. Just how active the club is in its bidding isn’t clear, but the South Siders are continuing to dangle carrots (in less-than-subtle ways) in an attempt to lure Machado to Chicago.
Still, it’s notable that the White Sox evidently remain a legitimate potential landing spot — if only because that’d potentially make for much-needed leverage for Machado’s representatives. With the jockeying surrounding Machado and fellow unsigned star Bryce Harper perhaps entering a final phase, those players’ respective agents need all the cards they can get their hands on.
Recent indications are that the Padres have offered Machado something greater than $240MM and perhaps reaching $280MM. That sets a rather high bar — loftier, perhaps, than the level of contract the White Sox were reportedly dangling one month ago.
Even if the White Sox are willing to top the Friars, there could be further competition. Rosenthal suggests that the front offices of all three organizations see Machado as a better fit than Harper, though ownership preferences may be a bit different. Perhaps, then, there’s still some room for a late run-up in the bidding. Harper’s ongoing presence, and largely overlapping slate of bidders, makes for another factor in this complicated matchmaking dance.
They’ll land him. He’ll get to play with his brother-in-law.
What???? I thought Bryce to the Yankees on a “discount” and Machado to the Phils was a lock? You’re a joke.
I said my guess was Manny signs with the Phillies and Harper to Yankees.
How me guessing Harper / Manny futures a “lock”?
Yanks still very much a possibility, albeit slim one
Sorry, buddy, but you said on at least two (of your fifty Harper comments) that Bryce was a lock to go to the Yankees. I don’t care one way or another, but you really pressed it early in the offseason.
x dont get defensive after your numerous post of fake predictions as they become reality
Porkins, he’s pressed it in nearly every article, not just early in the offseason.
Here we go again…
I stand by my prediction!
Obviously if Harper-Yanks is realized, it would have to be a discount on alleged 300M offer lol
And love Bryce Harper! My favorite player.
Only a child has “favorite players”
Sounds like CDtheLB unwritten rules lol
Harper is your favorite player… that explains so much
Really? Interesting take
I’m 71 and Bregman is my favorite player. Along with Tony Kemp.
Xabial is worse than stroman in that “nobody will love you like me” video
Im 41 and my favorite player is Adam Jones.
Roberto Clemente was my childhood hero and I am a Toys R Us kid and will never grow up.
My point is even as adults some of us have favorite players..
Don’t question Ninja Cash….
He is a joke Nostradamus h e is not
Machado to Yankees. Harper to Phillies.
Yankee fans are not gonna be happy imo, Machado will be with the white sox or padres, Harper to the phillies
They are BOTH money players! What’s happening is terrible for baseball! Anywhere they go, there will be success,but with all this holdout, it’s becoming a bad lifetime movie. Respect for the game is gone at this point and where ever they go will take away from all the hard working players that are just playing because they’re have the rare opportunity!!!!
The players agents are the ones who are holding everything up, Boras is one agent who is not to be trusted. He speaks half truths in everything.
Yankees fans are the most annoying fans in the league change my mind.
you might have forgotten about red sox fans
A few years ago I would have agreed with you, even though I am a Yankee fan. Since 2015 or so bad Cubs fans have the bad Yankee fans beaten by a mile. It’s probably less than 10% of the fan base but they are the most annoying fans in the world.
Cub fans….so entitiled for having won once in 100+ years…and just barely at that.
Going to have to agree here. Remember when Cubs fans were crying because everyone said they didn’t have anymore money to spend? All we heard was how they “print money” and how those were all false reports made up by the media with no facts to backup their claims. Maybe they’ll FINALLY believe everybody else now that Ricketts came out and said they have no money left to spend.
Only since 2015? They have been the most annoying in my 39 years of life.
Yes dad. And also Jon Jay is his best friend.
“Strong Factor” = Fall back option
he’s a padre, ya oaf
I think they can delete this thread now!
His locker in between Yonder and Jon Jay is ready for him.
Seems crowded.
Manny is skipping spring training so he doesn’t have to hustle yet.
Machado is a better lineup fit, but Harper is the much more marketable star, which if they’re close dollars wise might sway what would obviously be ownership level decisions.
I’d argue Harper is the better fit.
That being said, I’d happily take either.
This poor guy who openly admits he doesn’t hustle but has multiple $30 million a year offers. Tough times…
What the heck?! As a Padres fan knowing we will end up jobbed and acquire either. Enough already!
Johnny Trujillo of ESPN 1050 believes Machado is signing a short term deal with the Yankees this week. Since it fits my wishful thinking I’ll cling to this tidbit, but sadly the odds are very high its more fake news
Johnny Two Jewels? He would say that!
I hear 3 years, $110M
Yanks should give him a 5/160 with an opt out after two years. Pay him 75-80 for the first two years and he’ll clearly opt out at that point even though it’ll be Trout’s offseason. Yankees will get an impact talent and Machado plays where he truly wants to. If Machado really wanted to be a Yankee I’d have to imagine they’d find some common ground on a shorter term deal like that.
I hear 1 year $8 million. Hal told him he needs to stay below the luxury tax threshold and Manny wants to do whatever he can to help the Yankees.
Why don’t they just sign everyone while they’re at it
This makes the most sense among all recent speculation and fits with the whole Didi/Tulo thing.
If I’m the White Sox I’d take the 9 year route at this point and give him about $270M-$290M. Seems like they really want him the most but just need to throw out the money. They’ll be a juggernaut in the AL within a few years.
Not in our lifetime
My condolences to your soon-to-be widow. Sure you dont want to stick around to see our juggernaut?
It’s going take more than Eloy and Kopech.
I agree. If they REALLY want him, it’s time to say screw it and go all in.
Seeing the Whitesox were willing to trade prospects last year for just a chance to pay him a big contract, bringing in close relationships to player, I find it hard to believe how any team can justify anything like a comparable interest?
Juggernaut in montreal. Who wants to play in that dump on the Southside where nobody goes to watch the team play? They get 3 home sellouts a year-opening night and the 3 games the Cub are forced to play them each year.
1+3=4. I guess they don’t teach basic math on the North side.
1 + 3 = 4 buddy
This is really getting old.
Yep. No news here.
Agent using Sox as ploy to get the others to raise their offer so Manny can sign in San Diego.
Sox already announced Plan B to play Moncada at 3B.
That will mess up his offense even more. Keep Moncada at 2B and play Sanchez at 3B.
I disagree. Less for him to think about playing 3rd.
Yoan Moncada’s shift to 3B has more to do with Nick Madrigal becoming their second baseman as soon as next season. Madrigal will be the White Sox leadoff or #2 hitter and give them Gold Glove caliber defense at 2B. Moncada’s bat will play just fine at 3B and he will have less to think about at that more instinctive position.
If the White Sox are fortunate to sign Manny Machado he will displace either SS Tim Anderson or Moncada once Madrigal debuts. This is one reason why I believe Bryce Harper would be the better fit for the White Sox. Harper displaces either Daniel Palka or Nicky Delmonico in RF. He also provides a high OPS left-handed bat which the White Sox currently lack in their system. I like the Harper-Eloy Jimenez duo at #3 and #4 better than the Machado-Jimenez pairing although I would be thrilled with either as a White Sox fan.
A potential OF of Jimenez in LF, Luis Robert in CF and Harper in RF has the potential of being the most dynamic in my 63 years of following the White Sox. I would also love to see Machado at 3B but have confidence that an infield of Madrigal at 2B, Anderson at SS and Moncada at 3B could be very solid as well.
Love your posts….very insightful
I wonder if we’ll see some activity from Anderson in CF this spring?
disagree with Harper fits better over Machado…..
No prospect is proven to succeed, so it basically comes down to depth. With Machado/Harper you fill a ML roster spot with a proven player. Then ask yourself, would you rather:
sign Harper and rely on
1 of Moncada, Burger, Bush to handle 3B
1 of Madrigal, (Rivera, Nunez, Curbelo, Sosa?) to handle 2B
2 of Jimenez, Robert, Rutherford, Adolfo, Gonzalez, Basabe, Walker to OF
OR
sign Machado and rely on
1 of Moncada, Madrigal, Rivera, Nunez, Curbelo, Sosa to handle 2B
3 of Jimenez, Robert, Rutherford, Adolfo, Gonzalez, Basabe, Walker to OF
Personally, I like the second option MUCH better. I have very high hopes for the top 5 outfielders on the above list, but really only Moncada and Madrigal are all that interesting for 2B/3B. You can make a case for Bush but he is several years out from seeing the big leagues.
Funny, I’d say that’s what he’s using the Padres for.
Hahaha, are you sure? I guess a clueless Sux homer would say that.
No doubt.
This is just the required article. No news here. Same teams are involved. Still same situation of no team thinking the players are worth what their agents have told them they are worth.. SPRING TRAINING STARTED! SIGN ALREADY!
They are too cheap. They will end up trading their high end high ceiling players for more cheap controllable pieces. You shall see. Bring back Ozzzzzzzie
Please someone sign him or Harper. I need to know whether or not it’s financially responsible to purchase any sort of ticket to watch the White Sox play. Yes they have exciting prospects, yes I know they are rebuilding, but the product on the field has been dreadful to say the least and many fans want to see them finally spend the money and rope a blockbuster star here on the South Side. Reinsdorf needs to finally open his wallet and or get along with Boras to some regard. With many of the prospects struggling/injured last couple years, I am not alone in the fact the “excitement” of the rebuild is wearing off and many are wondering if the Boston trade was a bust. Obviously no one can come to that conclusion yet because they are young and still have an opportunity to perform. But if the White Sox want to fill the seats to any capacity, they need something now. Jump start the process. If you whiff on BOTH, than you better be looking at Trout next season.
Neither Harper nor Machado will make the White Sox interesting to watch. The same goes for the Giants and Padres.
As a season ticket holder, I disagree. Getting to see Machado every day is definitely better than the crap we got the last two years.
Just wait a couple weeks into the season, and assuming Eloy can stay healthy, you’ll have someone worth buying a ticket to see either way.
I understand that spring training moves at the same pace regardless of whether or not they sign, but I just don’t care anymore.
Is it me or is this WHOLE Harper…… Manny daily story thing starting to get like that story about the “Boy who cried wolf ” ? Less and less people every day are believing and/or paying attention to it .
All of this orchestrated to tease and torture downtrodden fanbases. To what end?
Manny to padres
Harper to Phillies
White Sox trade or dfa Alonso/jay
Why would the Sox trade or dfa those guys? You’re not making any sense.
Because those guys were brought in to lure Machado. Alonso is his brother in law and Jay is a close friend. It’s just a joke
They’re still two of the better baseball players on the roster though.
That’s pretty sad
It’s not healthy to work with family. lol
You mean two guys that were either traded for or signed in attempts to lure in manny?
Manny doesn’t sign with the shysox? I fully believe that makes them expendable.
Participation trophy presented by Ribbie and Roobarb.
Imagine Harper on the Northside and Charlie Hustle on the South. Keep dreaming, none will occur
Like it matters.
Everyone says owners are cheap and Machado and Harper being available shows that . Well these 2 have been offered 240-300mill dollar contracts at this point if were 2 believe earlier reports. These 2 thinking there worth more then that is insulting imo.
Both are really good, but let be real. These 2 are the problem. Harper hit sub 250 for 2nd time in 3yrs and struck out 160 times or so(if I remember right?). Mannys really good but not top 2 or 3 contract ever good. Add in fact ur giving insane doe to a guy who said He’s not a hustle type, to add to the risk factor. They’re being greedy and have already had huge contracts offered but think there gods .if I was a owner, I’d pass on 300mill for either of these 2also
Lol, insane doe.
I live in Pennsylvania & all indications that I get from the Philly media is that the Phillies prefer Harper over Machado and yet Rosenthal says that the Phillies front office sees Machado as the better fit. There have been reports here that the Phillies owner & manager (Kapler) were more impressed with Harper in the meetings than they were Machado. That Harper came across as more down to earth and Machado more aloof
in other words they’re signing Keuchel and Kimbrel
Seems like article put out by agent to keep bidding going higher lol
Dido tito. You got it right bro
batardo – exactly that. This is just more crap coming out of Lozano’s office to try to get other teams to bid against themselves.
Here’s how I assess it:
I believe that the initial report of the CHW offer was probably accurate – or close enough that Lozano went nuts and issued a public statement.
IMO the reports of 240 – 280MM from the Padres are probably inflated, for the simple reason that the range is too large. What is it – 240 or 280?
I suspect that even if it’s 280 for Manny in SDP, at 30 per year and the Phillies are in the 240 range(see below), that Lozano is using CHX story to try to get these two teams to up their bids.
Both SDP and PHL have built in advantages: SDP is in an area where the weather is much nicer most of the year, but the taxes are much higher than in Philadelphia, which is Philly’s advantage.
Machado, if a Padre, will play 100 games in California in 2019 at a state income tax level of approximately 13.3%, and at least that many every year assuming no interleague with OAK or LAA. He will play 81 games in Philadelphia and pay the state income tax of 3.07% and, assuming he lives in the burbs, a city wage tax of 3.50%.
That means all else being equal (meaning he pays roughly the same amount of tax on the road games), his tax for playing in SDP would be ~ $2,462,963, and in PHL it would be $985,500 – $1,477,463 LESS than if he played in San Diego.
So, because he’s in a marginal tax bracket of 37% and state and local deductions are now capped at $10,000, he’s not going to get the break anymore of writing off the CA taxes from his federal return,
Therefore, in order to make up the difference in state and local tax rates for someone in his tax bracket, SDP would need to offer an AAV of approximately 4.9MM dollars more (or approx 40MM over the life of the deal) to equal Manny’s take home pay in PHL.
That may explain the 240 – 280 range we have heard, in that on an after tax basis, 240MM in PHL = 280MM in SDP.
Yup, San Diego is an awfully nice place to live, but Philly has a built in advantage when it comes to take home pay.
Yes, deferrals like Scherzer’s for when he’s retired and living in FL would reduce the taxes, but the Phillies could offer th same type of deferalls.
No matter how you slice and dice it $250MM in Philly puts more take home pay in Manny pocket than $280MM in San Diego – and you can bet the Phillies know this, and Manny and Lozano know this too.
In short, when it comes to take home pay, the Phillies don’t need to match the Padres offer.
So, will Manny take the higher offer with less actually take home pay just to set a marker?
Inquiring minds want to know?
Could Machado just buy a house in Arizona and use that as his his state tax rate? I know a lot of Giants players have homes in Arizona and I figure it’s a tax thing.
Players pay state and local taxes based on where their games, home and away, are played at, not where they live.
No, teams with professional sports teams tax visiting players, regardless of state of residence. New York taxes Phillies players when they play in NY, and Philly taxes NY players.
That’s why I used the formula of Manny playing a minimum 100 games in California every season. Between the 81 home games in San Diego and the LAD and SFG road games it adds up to a neat 100.
If the SDP play a 3 game set in Philly, Manny would pay the Philly rates, and the same holds for any other road city.
I suspect players like road games in Texas and Florida where there is not state income tax, but may be local taxes.
I thought so but figured there was some kind of loop hole because there are a lot of players who have houses in az and it’s just kinda strange. Even Longoria had one when with the Ray’s. Really thought it was for tax purposes.
California has a lower tax burden than Illinois or NY. cnbc.com/2018/04/10/us-states-with-the-highest-tax…
States changed the laws specifically because athletes and entertainers weren’t subject to their taxation.
I believe a person’s home state for tax purposes is the state they live in for the most days each year. How much of the year does Machado live in Florida?
It’s not that much of a difference. When you take into consideration property tax and sales and excise taxes it would amount to about a 0.6% difference. The Padres could easily offset that small of a difference by paying Machado a large signing bonus which is taxed differently.
What property tax? Machado lives in Florida and Harper in Nevada. Are they even going to buy a house where they play? California does have a lower property tax rate than Pennsylvania but the home values they’re based on aren’t comparable. I own a homes in California that’s worth more than my brother’s home in Pennsylvania even though it’s less than half the size.
Sales tax is higher in California than Pennsylvania.
This is a great post. Thanks for the insight.
You are welcome. I have another post that is “awaiting moderation”, in response to Koamalu’s post that because of property and sales taxes the difference is 0.6%. I suspect the links I posted as references are the reason for the moderation.
Without the links, Sales tax in CA is 7.5%, and in PA it’s 6.0%. Property taxes on an equivalent 2.5MM home in both places would be about $15,000 in Sand Diego County and about 48,000 for new construction in Philly’s western suburbs.
Those numbers do not add up to a 0.6% difference.
Hey Nona,
That was such a great post, I sent it to others and had my wife read it.
Thank you for your time,
It’s appreciated here greatly!!
But Philly is NOT going to sign Harper and Machado. They’ll sign one or the other. When they say they can sign both, they’re fatmouthing, to let everyone know in MLB “HEY..WE GOT MONEY ALL OVER THE PLACE!!!” It’s really that simple.
Yes..all things considered, on the tax side of things, it’d behoove MM to go to Philly. But Lozano would have to dance like he’s never danced before to elbow Boras out of the way, to make MM the priority in Philly, over Harper. And honestly?… I think Philly wants Harper significantly more than they want or need Manny.
as a white sox fan im just so annoyed at this whole thing. it isnt fair to any of the teams or remaining free agents.
You knew this was going to happen. Here’s hoping the old man goes gentle into that good night. We need a renaissance man like Cuban or Bezos.
This is a typical cheap ploy by the WhiteSUCKS to keep the losing fan base happy and sell tickets. At the end like other years they will disappoint us and as idiots we keep giving them another chance again and again.
We need to wake up and start sending a strong message to the cheap ownership once and for all. STOP PLAYING WITH FANS!
Sounds more like a sCrUBs tactic to me.
Dude, try switching to decaf.
And please stop shouting.
Wait to buy ur Sox tickets if at all.
I will watch on TV for free until they actually sign someone worth watching at Great Rate!
Rosenthal’s tweet disappeared from BR
BUt aN INsTagRAM pOSt i REaD sAid mAChaDO aLReADy AGReEd tO 8/285 WItH THe pADrEs
Do you really believe the Padres are giving Machado more than $35 million AAV? 9/285 maybe.
Yes
Uh, yes….and it’s apparent to me, you haven’t been keeping up with their ownership group. Peter Seidler doesn’t blow smoke. He would’ve NEVER made visits to Miami and Vegas to see MM & BH, if he wasn’t VERY serious about paying them for their services. He’s a BOSS…you just know how he rolls, because it’s the San Diego Padres. And folks felt the same way about Houston, for years.
I’m not normally one to complain about things like this but he and Harper just need to sign a contract already
I personally feel that no one is worth that kind of money. It’s not like they are saving lives. If I was the owners/gm’s I would tell these players to pound sand!
The agents are driving this bus, not the players…when the agents feel they’ve gotten the best deal, that’s when they’ll sign….
— “… it seems it’s still a multi-horse race, …” —
… and we are all downwind.
This is ridiculous. The money is there. How long does someone really need to decide where they want to play?
They need as long as it takes their agents to squeeze the top dollar.
Also, in news, breaking, I am strong factor in date time with Cindy Crawford!
She is glad I don’t hustle!
I saw a tweet that Harper was finally going to the Astros.
Not state or local taxes in Houston. Big advantage.
No way Machado is worth more than 30 a year. He’d be a fool to turn that down.
Baseball is the anti-NBA. You don’t need established superstars to win. You win by growing and developing your own, whether they be young players acquired via trade or through the draft. Look at last year’s playoff teams. Heck, any year’s playoff teams. Who was the last top-3 free agent that turned a non-contender into a playoff contender? Scherzer?
Except that the Nats made the playoffs in 2 of the 3 years before Scherzer got there, one being the year before.
They were a playoff team already.
Harper not needed in Chitown. We have several young outfield prospects on the rise. Machado could help on left side of infield, but he is going where the money is. I wouldn’t give the guy more than a 3 year deal.
I just wish they would pick a team already
You always manage one sentence in your posts with an unnecessary “then”. Just get to the point.
The longer these players hold out, the more they will,turn in 2018 Greg hollland, signed late and performed poorly. spring training has started. The games start soon. They won’t be ready and will a joke of a player. Thanks boras for not getting Harper signed.. This story has will,go on longer than Jon benet Ramsey.
You know, you could have gone with Joan of Arc instead. She at least was a young adult, and people have been talking about her much longer.
It’s all agents leaking “info” to gain leverage…..
It’s what they do…..
Machado + Tatis would make a great tandem on the left side of the Padres infield for many years!
Sigh…What an awful trade by the Sox…
At least when the white Sox don’t sign him they’ll have all of his friends to tell them stories of how great many is.
Even as a Dodgers fan, I hope he ends up with the Padres. That’s where I’d go. Beautiful city, great ballpark, stacked farm system — it’s the total package.
Also any team that signs him will regret it very soon.
Machado is a lock to sign with an MLB team. Heard it here first. Somewhere between 1 and 12 years, 1M to 40M per year.
This is old just sign already and lets play ball
He’s coming to Chicago, Going to San Diego is baseball suicide if the money is close he be an idiot to go there other than for the weather
You still bitter we stole tatis jr from you guys
“We?”
Yes we
I hate to break it to you, kid, but you have nothing to do with the organization. Apparently you need that fantasy in your life, though.
Hahaha your a funny guy
His what is a funny guy?
you’re
Funny how? Do I amuse you?
I’ll bet you enjoy torturing small furry animals with a red-hot poker.
Burn.
Many see the Padres farm system as the best in baseball.
The weather, the location, the future vs Chicago, the crime center of the country?
I would take a discount to play in SD.
Part of San Diego will become Mexico once Trump builds his wall.
Yeah, you gotta watch out for both real AND fake crimes in Chicago these days.
Haha, SD is baseball suicide?!? The Northwest Indiana White Sux are the red headed step kids of baseball. Couldn’t be more irrelevant. The Cubs own that city rendering the Sux a small market team. That’s why the last big ticket free agent they signed in his prime was over 25 YEARS AGO! Albert or Joey Belle and dude was literally crazy.
Besides this is the same inept, clueless FO that claimed to be “ALL IN” just a few years ago only to end up with a worse record than teams actively tanking. Hahaha, the Sox actually helped SD sign Manny. Tatis Jr + for No Game Shields?!?! Hahaha! Can’t blame Manny for trusting SD’s rebuild more than the parade of BUSTS graduating from the Sox system.
BREAKING NEWS! Looks like we were right, Machado says no thanks to the Sox and sings w/ SD. He does wanna thank the Sox for signing all of his bum friends/family though. Hahaha
Maga
Machado is gonna end up with the Yankees he’s teasing the White Sox with all this posts he puts up but honestly what pisses me of the lost they traded for Alonso and signed Jay just to see if Machado comes to the south side
It’s called, PIMPING…and Reinsdorf is playing these little petty games, just because he can. If I were Manny, the only way I’d go to Chicago would be if the money was just incredibly STUPID.Hes trying to pimp Manny.
Chicago was basically the first team to step out and make it known they wanted him. Quite frankly, Reinsdorf’s offer of 175 million was and still is, and insult. And that’s exactly why I think the CEO of baseball owners, offered that much…to belittle Manny. But I still understand Lozano using the team as leverage. That said, I’d be surprised if MM ended up in Chicago.. brother in law or no brother in law. Manny Machado is headed to San Diego. And his haters and the haters of the Padres, know it. That’s why they’re screaming and squealing so much. If they REALLY didn’t think that’s the team he’ll meet up with in Arizona, they wouldn’t waste time posting about him or SD. It’d be the equivalent of Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh, trying to acquire him.
At this point, it wouldn’t surprise me if a team like the Rockies or the Tigers signed one or both. It would at least break up the monotony.
Very few comments have looked at the state income tax rates in New York or California in trying to read the minds of MM and his agent.. $25m in Illinois is the about $28m in California and $27m in New York. So the White Sox are not insulting anyone.. As to Philadelphia, have any of the people commenting actually spent any time there.. Factor in the life style of Chicago versus Philadelphia and $25m is not an insult.
What “lifestyle” difference between Philly and Chicago? Do you mean he’ll be on the road less if he signs in one place or the other? Or do you mean the climate/weather related things? Bars and restaurants? Crime? Commute to the ballpark? Downtown areas or suburbs?
Have you spent time both places and their surrounding suburbs?
Please enlighten us.
I’ve lived in both Chicago and Philadelphia, including various suburbs. Chicago is better, and it’s not even close.
Here’s why it’s irrelevant to millionaire athletes; they can afford to live anywhere they want. They don’t have to live in the cities they play in. In fact, most ball players maintain permanent residences in the city/town where they grew up. Fans think all these guys want to play in L.A., Miami or San Diego. Wrong. They want to play where they’ll get payed. They can live in those cities during the offseason and be good.
I agree with it not mattering. I’ve been trying to convince other Philly fans of that concept concerning Trout. He can go to any eagle game he wants… Its top, historic offer or bust. He can get to Wildwood from anywhere he signs pretty easily… Lol
I keep seeing people bring up taxes. They get taxes on the game check for the state that game is in. So it’s not all Cali tax if he goes to Cali or all PA tax if he goes to Philly. The extra tax is marginal at best, especially considering the amount he’ll be paid with salary not even counting endorsements. As to the lifestyle… Yeah… That Chicago lifestyle is so deseriable… Lol
Whoever signs either player will be eating a large portion of their salary in a trade 4 years from now.
Why would a team with Machado or Harper be eating a large portion of their salary before either plays in their age 30 season?
I would be surprised if the Dodgers or Yankees end up with Harper or Machado. Not a big need there in either place for them. I think Machado will end up with the White Sox. Harper probably Philly or San Diego. Would love for Harper to come to the North Side, but that is not happening.
Not anymore..
Manny was never picking the Sux and JR was never gonna pony up the loot. Just an obvious smoke screen by the front office to trick the fans into buying tickets. A shady move by Kenny and Hahn. Not cool.
The White Sox are a “Reinsdork”-owned team. “Reinsdork” and his crony minions are all pride-less weaklings that don’t know how to run organizations. No wonder they didn’t get Machado.
“Reinsdork” will probably end up trading for Machado when he’s in the final two years of his Padres contract, and is old and washed up. That’s pretty much the modus operandi for a “Reinsdork” team. Just trade for a big name, to fill the seats, when they’re old, washed up, and nobody wants them anymore.