Quote from fenn68 on February 6, 2019, 8:24 pm

I would not be surprised if Moose has not gotten an offer from anyone yet (at least anything acceptable) which might just make his signing academic at this point. Boras is his agent and not going to let him sign early for peanuts anyway. Remember last winter and the tepid demand for Moose ... not much has changed.

Moose is not Machado. PHIL / CWS may pursue the super star Machado but good chance neither will be seeing Moose as a primary need if they don't sign Machado. Spend their money elsewhere since both teams have serviceable 3B.

Boras will wait just to get the better offer and maybe that has to come for SD. Preller will wait to get Boras to take a more team friendly deal. More worried that KC or MILW gets back into the picture for Moose and that might appeal to Moose if SD does not play out. Still not a good market for Moose so likely still team friendly deal no matter who signs him.

Quote from 3fingersplit on February 6, 2019, 9:57 pm

You guys crack me up...Harper is NOT signing with San Diego and neither is Machado

It's a great PR move to make it look like the Pads are in but they aren't and the Realmuto for the moon is a joke

AJ is not going to rebuild Miami's farm system in one felled swoop for only 2 years.

I do believe the Pads have a better than 50% chance at Moose

C'mon Spring Training....can't wait to get over to Peoria

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 7, 2019, 5:19 am

Harper to S.F. makes too much sense...and the more I think about it the more sense it makes.

It gets him to the West Coast but still in a big market that "isn't" L.A. and I can imagine the thoughts of him hitting Dingers into the Bay for 8 years will entice him.

I think if they offer the same money as others he'll end up there.

 

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 5:39 am

I don't get too influenced by the teams' needs for Machado / Harper determining their signing .... still about the money. With PHIL / CWS being touted as the main bidders what we seem to be seeing is that neither are all that interested in putting out the contract that appeals to the agents ... plus knowing they are the only serious bidders are not interested in upping their offers (i.e. bidding against themselves). Still a lot of time until the season opens and to a degree neither PHIL / CWS are legit contenders even if they sign either one, motivation is not that high.

What we see with SD (an early player), SF (now), and the rumored other teams now calling are teams that would like to have Harper / Machado BUT only at their price (likely shorter term and lower dollars). Reading how the market appears to be for either ... need to call the agents as determine the parameters and get a their level of offer on the table ... see if they get lucky.

Even if it is a long shot ... teams need to open the negotiations if they are at all interested. Guessing most will not be close to offering a level of the winning contract since only one team needs to go high and history seems to show that one team will.

Don't think this is  PR play from the Padres ... they legitimately want Harper but at what they see as right for the Padres ... and that likely will not get it done ... but there is a chance as the market tightens. So play the game. As a PR move, it would be a bad one since not one expected them to be in the mix and upping expectations knowing they would dash them has little upside.

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 5:50 am

Anyone know what is going on with Machado. Have not heard any reports that he has (or is willing to) had a meeting with the Padres even after the week old report that the Padres wanted to meet with him. Seems that Machado has no interest in signing with SD or maybe anywhere on the West Coast and at this point would be concerned that is distain for even entering negotiation is not a good base for a long term arrangement. Move on.

Could also suggest he has a workable offer from PHIL / CWS or some other East Coast team and is just trying to use time to get it up a bit.

I still speculate that Miami may sneak in ... since their payroll is basically going close to league minimum in a couple of years (really low now) ... maybe in conflict with the Union by going that route of not paying anyone ... and as a Miami native and super star he could be their face of the team for years as they rebuild. If they put up a competitive contact ... Miami would appeal to Machado since no East Coast "contender" seems to be interested.

Quote from Henry Silvestre on February 7, 2019, 6:08 am

Saw a tweet he was Meeting with Chisox today in an effort to ink a deal.... He doesn't want to play in West..

Quote from MrPadre19 on February 7, 2019, 6:52 am

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 5:50 am

Anyone know what is going on with Machado. Have not heard any reports that he has (or is willing to) had a meeting with the Padres even after the week old report that the Padres wanted to meet with him. Seems that Machado has no interest in signing with SD or maybe anywhere on the West Coast and at this point would be concerned that is distain for even entering negotiation is not a good base for a long term arrangement. Move on.

Could also suggest he has a workable offer from PHIL / CWS or some other East Coast team and is just trying to use time to get it up a bit.

I still speculate that Miami may sneak in ... since their payroll is basically going close to league minimum in a couple of years (really low now) ... maybe in conflict with the Union by going that route of not paying anyone ... and as a Miami native and super star he could be their face of the team for years as they rebuild. If they put up a competitive contact ... Miami would appeal to Machado since no East Coast "contender" seems to be interested.

Miami could make for a difficult decision for Machado.

They could certainly offer him the "right" amount of money but he would be getting himself right back into the type of situation

he was in in Baltimore.

Big fish in a small losing pond.

Nothing the new Ownership group has done down there makes me think they are only 1-2 years away from competing...especially considering what the other teams in that division have done.

 

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 9:51 am

Sounding more like PHIL is closing in on trading for Realmuto ... not much of a payroll impact for the next 2 year so money still to spend.

Might the deal be a plus in luring either Machado or Harper to PHIL?

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 9:58 am

Quote from David Nevin on February 7, 2019, 6:52 am

Quote from fenn68 on February 7, 2019, 5:50 am

Anyone know what is going on with Machado. Have not heard any reports that he has (or is willing to) had a meeting with the Padres even after the week old report that the Padres wanted to meet with him. Seems that Machado has no interest in signing with SD or maybe anywhere on the West Coast and at this point would be concerned that is distain for even entering negotiation is not a good base for a long term arrangement. Move on.

Could also suggest he has a workable offer from PHIL / CWS or some other East Coast team and is just trying to use time to get it up a bit.

I still speculate that Miami may sneak in ... since their payroll is basically going close to league minimum in a couple of years (really low now) ... maybe in conflict with the Union by going that route of not paying anyone ... and as a Miami native and super star he could be their face of the team for years as they rebuild. If they put up a competitive contact ... Miami would appeal to Machado since no East Coast "contender" seems to be interested.

Miami could make for a difficult decision for Machado.

They could certainly offer him the "right" amount of money but he would be getting himself right back into the type of situation

he was in in Baltimore.

Big fish in a small losing pond.

Nothing the new Ownership group has done down there makes me think they are only 1-2 years away from competing...especially considering what the other teams in that division have done.

 

Machado's "problem" is that apparently the only two team that have made serious advances are PHIL and CWS ... neither as yet have apparently offered big money / long term to his liking and frankly ... despite CWS fine farm system ... they are no lock to compete (win) in the near term. PHIL is at the moment projected 4th in the NL East and have a mediocre farm system getting less talent once the deal for Realmuto.

IF Miami comes in with the big money / long term (with a plethora of opt outs) he may just take the best deal he can get now and wait to exercise the opt out to really get what he wants (NYY) at a later date. Clearly not going to get what he wants in this FA.

MLB has to be really concerned about Miami's approach and its ripple effect with the next CBA and just making the Union more adamant about rules to prohibit this bottom feeding strategy.