Right around midnight, Ken Rosenthal tweeted out that the White Sox are the most aggressive team in trying to acquire Manny Machado’s services.
A surprising team emerges as the most aggressive suitor for Machado. The latest: https://t.co/8emZ0hh1yH $
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 14, 2017
The article describes how it is indeed the White Sox that have the most aggressive package on the table. Currently, the White Sox have offered one of either Lucas Giolito or Michael Kopech to start talks, but not both. It is unclear what the rest of the package contains at this time.
Rick Hahn is probably pressing Baltimore for the 72 hour negotiation window in order to attempt to resign Machado longterm right away, but there is no guarantee that happens. It is also possible that the White Sox trade for Machado and flip him to a team like the Yankees at the trade deadline.
As a White Sox fan, my initial knee-jerk reaction to this is a resounding “NO.” Giolito and Kopech both project to be a force for the rotation for the next several years. I think trading one of them away as part of a package could do longterm harm, especially if Machado chooses to resign elsewhere. However, Rick Hahn has done so much for this organization the past twelve months. I trust that he will do whatever is best for the White Sox longterm.
As far as the deal getting done, it sounds like it is still not close to completion, but for now, the White Sox are the clear front runner for the three time All-Star.
