LAS VEGAS — The words coming from White Sox brass at these Winter Meetings show an aggressiveness in pursuing the biggest names in the game and a confidence that the rebuilding process is moving toward an incredibly bright future.
But reports from some of the national writers who break all kinds of news during this kind of event show something different.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal wrote about the White Sox on Tuesday, reporting that team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf has given his front office the green light to pursue Harper and Machado, who are expected to receive a couple of the biggest contracts in baseball history, even though he has doubts about winning a bidding war. Then came a tweet from USA Today's Bob Nightengale on Wednesday, indicating that the South Siders are set to meet with the two big-name free agents, even though they don't see themselves as the favorites.
Humility is always good, but it's a stark contrast between those couple bits of reporting and the description of the White Sox and their aggressive winter to this point.
That being said, both pieces of information include the fact that the White Sox are still going to make their pitch to these guys and try to get them to play 81 (and eventually more) home games a year on the South Side.
It's already been reported that Hall of Famer Jim Thome came on board to help the White Sox pitch Harper, and the White Sox were reported to have a meeting with Machado soon, though whether that's here in Vegas or back in Chicago remains unclear, as Machado was reportedly going to take his free-agent tour to teams in their home cities.
The White Sox will be in the room with these guys, pitching them on why an impact talent like themselves should sign up with a team that lost 100 games last season. Certainly the metaphorical dump truck full of money will have an awful lot to do with it, and the team's virtual lack of any long-term financial commitments has made them seem such a realistic option to so many in the know. The White Sox sure seem willing to offer that kind of monstrous contract. They'd have to be, otherwise there'd be little point in an aggressive pursuit.
But their pitch will likely be focused on something else.
MLB
"It's the future. The talent we have," manager Rick Renteria said Tuesday when asked what the White Sox biggest selling point to free agents is. "We've got some really good-looking young players that are not far from being here and impacting us and helping us hopefully do what we're searching to do, which is win ballgames."
Hahn thinks that's a winning pitch, too. The chance to do something special from the ground up, to join a rebuilding team, buy into the future, watch the minor league talent ascend around you and then win a bunch of championships. That's what the White Sox will say to Harper and Machado.
Will it work?
The Philadelphia Phillies have vowed to "spend stupid," perhaps the reason they're the favorites to land Harper and one of the favorites to sign Machado. The New York Yankees can sell Machado (they took themselves out of the Harper running, it seems) on joining a 100-win team and being a part of the next Bronx dynasty. The Los Angeles Dodgers always seem willing to spend a huge chunk of change and are reportedly trying to make some moves that would clear room in their crowded outfield, perhaps for Harper.
That's tough competition. The Dodgers have been to back-to-back World Series, the Yankees had the third best record in baseball last season, and the Phillies made big strides in their rebuilding effort. It's hard play at that table with mere plans for the future.
But, as mentioned, the White Sox seem confident in their pitch, and they'll get to make it. The good news is their future does not dim at all if they don't hit on Harper or Machado. But getting one of those guys would certainly make it neon bright.
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