Does big-name free agent Manny Machado want to play for a team like the White Sox?

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White Sox fans have been buzzing for weeks now about the South Siders' reported interest in Manny Machado and a couple other of the biggest names on this winter's free-agent market.

But it takes two to tango, and an overarching question has been whether the White Sox reported interest and seeming willingness to spend and spend big will be matched by mutual interest from those big-ticket free agents.

Aside from Bryce Harper's mentioned enjoyment of deep-dish pizza, there's been little indication what the top free agents think about coming to the South Side of Chicago, but along with a hefty contract, the White Sox planned bright future would figure to be a bit of a draw.

Talking with MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, Machado didn't get too specific about what he's looking for in a new team after spending much of his career with the Baltimore Orioles and a half season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But the White Sox could certainly fall into the broad criteria he did provide.

"At the end of the day, I'll consider every situation carefully," Machado said. "There's a lot that goes into my decision. First and foremost, I will think about my family, where they will be comfortable and happy. I definitely want to be in a place where I can win long term and be a part of World Series teams for many years to come. It's way too early to tell what else might play a part, but I'm excited and looking forward to it."

Again, that's pretty generic. But if everything goes according to plan, the White Sox should be in a position to be a long-term winner and a perennial championship contender. They still boast one of the game's top farm systems, headlined by outfielder Eloy Jimenez, the No. 3 prospect in baseball. Not far behind him are pitchers Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease, outfielder Luis Robert and infielder Nick Madrigal — not to mention the talented young players already playing at the major league level.

The rebuild was initially undertaken with the goal of developing a team that could break the White Sox postseason drought, which has now last more than a decade. And while the positive results of that effort might be slow to arrive on the South Side, the future remains incredibly bright.

When it comes to landing a big-name free agent this winter, the challenge will be convincing him to buy into that bright future. Other teams expected to spend big this offseason — like the New York Yankees, the Philadelphia Phillies and the aforementioned Dodgers — can sell a major league roster currently capable of winning multiple championships with the addition of a superstar like Machado. The White Sox are fresh off a 100-loss season and need to point ot players that haven't yet reached the majors.

It's a challenge, but if playing for a long-term contender is a top priority of players like Machado, it'd be hard to argue that the White Sox haven't set themselves up to be just that.

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