Manny Machado's decision to sign with the Padres caught several teams by surprise, including the Phillies and "particularly the White Sox," according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. The White Sox' offer, which reportedly could have reached $350M with incentives, was believed to be the "high offer on the table." White Sox Exec VP Ken Williams said, "I honestly believed that we had the best offer on the table." White Sox GM Rick Hahn added he "felt like we made a very compelling offer" (USA TODAY, 2/20). In Chicago, Daryl Van Schouwen reports Hahn, Williams and White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf met with Dan Lozano, Machado’s agent, on Monday "with an enhanced offer and came away believing they might have a deal." Hahn said that Reinsdorf "should be commended for his aggressiveness and 'willingness to step up in terms of guaranteed dollars, structure, upside'" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/20). Also in Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the White Sox "saved quite a bit of money they can now spend." However, Hahn said that they "won’t use it to lure another high-priced free agent this year." He did say that the team will be "just as aggressive next winter" on the free-agent market (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/20). The SUN-TIMES' Steve Greenberg writes fans should "give credit" to the White Sox for "taking a real run at a free agent of Machado’s stature." At least the team "went for it" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/20). The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Teddy Greenstein writes not signing Machado "certainly won’t help home attendance, which has declined almost every year" since '06, or the White Sox' "poor TV ratings" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/20).
IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY...: In Philadelphia, Jim Salisbury wrote Machado's decision to sign with the Padres was "not met with disappointment in all circles of the Phillies organization and it certainly was not met with disappointment by the fans." Phillies execs "have favored" Bryce Harper over Machado, and Harper "remains the overwhelming free-agent choice of the fans" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 2/19). ESPN's Jeff Passan said Harper is "as much of a showpiece as he is a baseball player." He is a player a team can "sell tickets around" and "sell sponsorships around" (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 2/19). However, in Philadelphia, Scott Lauber writes under the header, "Bryce Or Bust? With Manny Machado Off The Board, Phillies Can’t Afford To Pass On Bryce Harper, Too" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 2/20).
