Nightingale is reporting none of the top prospects are included in the offer. Didn’t think they would be.

Only it didn’t involve any of their prized prospects. Not even close. The deal they offered, two executives said, were based on the belief they would have Machado for only one season.

The timing means everything. What if the Yankee offense is struggling in July and they're three behind Boston? If you mean why would the White Sox do such a deal, Well, yeah, Giolito is likely more valuable than Torres but it wouldn't be a one-for-one deal. The Sox would have to give more for Machado than just Giolito in the first place and they may be able to get a bunch more back from a desperate team. I agree that's a risky game to play because if you can't swing it and Machado walks, you look really fucking stupid. Unless you win next season with Machado.

Are you stoned or pissed off, or both, when you create these postings?

Seems like the O's are afraid he's gonna wind up in Yankee Stadium.

Which is really stupid. They should just worry about making the best deal to improve their team. He ends up where he ends up.

The timing means everything. What if the Yankee offense is struggling in July and they're three behind Boston? If you mean why would the White Sox do such a deal, Well, yeah, Giolito is likely more valuable than Torres but it wouldn't be a one-for-one deal. The Sox would have to give more for Machado than just Giolito in the first place and they may be able to get a bunch more back from a desperate team. I agree that's a risky game to play because if you can't swing it and Machado walks, you look really fucking stupid. Unless you win next season with Machado.

That's pretty awesome.

It's also pretty funny when you compare it to the "WHITE SOX WON'T TRADE WITH THE CUBS!" stuff that was out there before they made a huge deal with them and made everyone look dumb.

Why would the Orioles refuse to trade with the Yankees? The Yankees being good has almost no impact on them.

The most aggressive offer, they say, was from the biggest surprise team, the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox lost 95 games last year in Year 1 of their rebuild. They may lose even more this year. They’re not supposed to contend until 2019, at the earliest.

So what in the world are the White Sox doing by making an offer unless they intend to deal Machado to the Yankees for even better prospects?

“We are not looking to make any sort of move that’s aimed at simply jumping up and perhaps contending for a wild card or maybe even the division for one year,’’ White Sox GM Rick Hahn says. “The focus remains on the long term. Now we may take some calculated risks along the way. But the focus remains on putting ourselves in the best position for the long term.’’

Translation: The White Sox, according to team executives who spoke to USA TODAY Sports only on the condition of anonymity, indeed made a solid offer for Machado.

Only it didn’t involve any of their prized prospects. Not even close. The deal they offered, two executives said, were based on the belief they would have Machado for only one season.

Oh, sure, they’d love to have Machado for the next 10 years, and would have exclusive negotiating rights next season, but the chance of them dishing out at least $350 million for one player is about the same as the White Sox hosting a ring ceremony party for the Cubs.

Simply, the White Sox say, they would love to have Machado to help make them a better team, giving them a chance to sign him. If they are out of the race by the trade deadline, and Machado isn’t interested in signing an extension, they could then trade him and try to recoup their investment.

Yet, the White Sox insist they would not trade for Machado and immediately flip him. It would be completely unethical, they say. If the Orioles even wanted it in writing that they’d keep him around until at least mid-summer, no problem.

Still, the Orioles don’t believe it.....

Still, there’s the inherent risk that Machado would be nothing more than a one-year rental. It might be different if there were a guarantee Machado would stick around, but the Orioles refuse to give any team a 72-hour negotiating window.

“I don’t see that as a viable option,’’ Duquette said. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”

This is why the White Sox’s offer did not include one of their top prospects. It’s why the Cardinals didn’t even make a formal offer. And it’s why the Orioles may not receive a single offer that overwhelms them.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

It's more fun to be a victim

There will never be an effective vaccine. I'll never get one anyway.

Losing more than 95 games next year would be an unmitigated disaster.

It would be completely unethical, they say.

I kind of see where the Orioles are coming from but they cannot control Machado signing with them in a year. It feels like a desperate bid to delay the inevitable.

I cant imagine Hahn actually expected to get away with it but I'm glad he tried. The Orioles probably didn't take long to wonder why the White Sox, in the midst of a near complete tear down that began just barely over a year ago, would be interested in a one year rental of Machado. I still think there is a way to actually add Machado with the intention of holding onto him for 2018 (and hopefully beyond) but they'd have to be really careful about it. An interesting idea would be an Avi-for-Machado swap, but I'm sure the Orioles would only consider it under the assurance that the Sox would keep Machado or at least not deal back into the AL east.

Isn't that the kind of shit that made Billy Beane a "genius"?

He'd sign guys that were primed for a bounce back year (BABIP fluctuations and such) and then flip them at the deadline for prospects when they did eventually bounce back.

But I'm not sure that trading for Machado just to turn around and try to trade him to another team is unethical, if only because it would be impossible. What better offer is going to appear from the ether for a White Sox-held Manny Machado that isn't there for the Orioles now?

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Laurence Holmes is a fucking weirdo, a nerd in denial, and a wannabe. Not a very good radio host either.

Realmuto demanding trade out of MIA. F Machado, and grab this guy. Make your run at Manny in 2018.