Yes. On 2 fronts. 1) they refused to seal the deal when there were no other primetime bidders. 2) their bogus claims after they lost him. Reinsdorf was exposed and it makes me have zero faith he can ever land a big whale.

People can call it a blessing in disguise, that's fine, but we all know what went down.

Ok let me put it this way.

How would be feeling now if the Sox had five more wins right now, just plus Machado and his sub-.800 OPS? Also plus his 10 year $300m contract. Its a hypothetical that actually manages to have more despair than the status quo.

There's a lot to hate about the White Sox but missing out on Machado has been justified. That contract would be absolutely crippling, they would've used it as an excuse for the next ten years.

and they will let a guy like Moncada walk when he becomes too expensive

This likely isn't true. The Sox are not shy about paying guys once they've been in the organization a couple years. It is extremely likely that the money that would have gone to Machado is now going to be spent on Moncada and Giolito.

Not since Magglio have they let someone they really care about walk. Now part of this is the dearth of worthwhile players they've had rostered but the other part is that they really do take care of their own. I guess it's one of the few benefits of following a team that operates mostly based on sentimentality.

What would have been likely, IMO, Machado at SS and Timmy in another city or in CF.

Yes.

Ok let me put it this way.

How would be feeling now if the Sox had five more wins right now, just plus Machado and his sub-.800 OPS? Also plus his 10 year $300m contract. Its a hypothetical that actually manages to have more despair than the status quo.

There's a lot to hate about the White Sox but missing out on Machado has been justified. That contract would be absolutely crippling, they would've used it as an excuse for the next ten years.

Ok let me put it this way.

How would be feeling now if the Sox had five more wins right now, just plus Machado and his sub-.800 OPS? Also plus his 10 year $300m contract. Its a hypothetical that actually manages to have more despair than the status quo.

There's a lot to hate about the White Sox but missing out on Machado has been justified. That contract would be absolutely crippling, they would've used it as an excuse for the next ten years.

Next up would be a LH starter. I reckon they'll trade for one rather than sign one.

This likely isn't true. The Sox are not shy about paying guys once they've been in the organization a couple years. It is extremely likely that the money that would have gone to Machado is now going to be spent on Moncada and Giolito.

The Sox never pay anyone unless it is a team friendly below market rate contract. Albert Belle is still their largest contract when adjusted for inflation and they have never given over 100 million.

What are the chances they get one with an ERA under 5 or more than 10 wins?

I'd say zero.

They will need to get creative or buy low since their trade assets are very limited. This is why its a bit of bummer they couldn't make anything out of this deadline, they could use one more top 100 prospect just as an asset.

This pretty well sums it up. Machado would not have meant the difference between a successful rebuild and a failed rebuild, and his contract would have ham strung them for a decade. After picking him up they never would have signed anyone else of note. That being said, go out this off season and get a starting pitcher with a good post season track record.

Both guys on the Sox left side of the infield have better numbers than Machado. FAR SUPERIOR even. Yes, the Sox are cheap. Yes, Reinsdorf is a dirtbag. Yes, the Sox came off poorly with everything. And yes, hindsight is always 20/20.

But sometimes the moves you don't make end up being the best moves for the team as a whole.

Don't be so sure about that opt out, GD. If he puts up .790 OPS and a 3 WAR like he has this season, he isn't going to get more money than he has already signed for.