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White Sox: Let’s Talk About A 2018 Free Agent Wish List

By Breven Daugherity

BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out J.D. Martinez (not pictured) #28 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out J.D. Martinez (not pictured) #28 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 24: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers singles during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the 2018 World Series at Fenway Park on October 24, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Now what you all came here for…

Okay, enough with the realistic (or at least I believe) predictions. It’s time to have fun. This upcoming free agent class is an exceptional one, and I couldn’t write on it without including at least one of the big names. So here it is, my big name prediction for the White Sox this offseason.

Manny Machado (26)

Did you expect anything else? Us Sox fans have been crossing our fingers for Manny Machado ever since the team reportedly was interested in trading for him last offseason, or at least I have. Now I know Machado is not necessarily a fan favorite because of his aggressiveness on the field, but his skill is too much to avoid. It’s not like the Sox never signed one of the leagues most hated players anyway (see Albert Belle).

Despite speculation, the White Sox did not acquire Machado in a trade, obviously. But now he will be free game for anybody, and the Sox have an attractive resume. They have a young foundation that seems to be ready to burst onto the scene anytime now. The Sox have a manager in Rick Renteria that could be perfect for a player like Machado. They have a team that shares many similarities with Machado, a team that is around the same age as him for the most part. There’s a lot of reasons I chose Machado as a possibility because it really is not that far fetched.

Regardless of who signs Machado, it is not going to be cheap. That is due in part to his generational ability and his agent Scott Boras, someone who always knows how to get his clients what they want. Whatever team gets him will also likely be handing him for eight to 10 years, as that is the trend with younger superstar players. Acquiring Machado and implementing him into the Sox already strong young core would be huge for Hahn and company. He truly could be the missing piece that could propel the Sox from mid-rebuild to serious contenders.

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