Southside Showdown Predicts If White Sox Can Sign Harper or Machado

White Sox fans want answers. Southside Showdown is here to offer predictions on which teams the top two free agents this offseason will be signing with.

This offseason has been exciting at times for White Sox fans and also frustrating. With the Sox having a meeting with free agent superstar Manny Machado and being interested in signing Bryce Harper, fans have been on pins and needles waiting to see what team either player signs with.

Neither Harper or Machado have signed and as we’re getting closer to the new year, and it doesn’t appear a decision will be made before the end of 2018 by either player. Machado has informed the Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees that his decision will come after the new year. Harper’s camp has been relatively quiet since the Winter Meetings.

So where will either of these players end up to start Spring Training? Is Machado destined to be with the Yankees? Is Machado going to Philadelphia for brotherly love or will he play with his brother-in-law in Yonder Alonso on the South Side? What about Harper?

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Will he take a chance and sign with the Sox to play in the same city as his friend Kris Bryant? Or will Harper go to Hollywood to be much closer to home and play with the Los Angeles Dodgers? Could Harper return to the team that drafted him in the Washington Nationals?

Currently, none of us have the complete answer to any of these questions except for Machado and Harper. We won’t know which team ultimately signs either player until the ink has been dried on their respective contracts. All we can do in the meantime is speculate. And that’s what we at Southside Showdown are going to do!

Here you will read the predictions from most of our contributors on which team will sign Machado or Harper this offseason. Conor Evans provided his predictions on each player in a previous article. Some predictions are favorable if you’re a Sox fan and some might shock you if you really want to see either player playing their home games on the South Side. When Harper or Machado do sign their next contracts, it will be interesting to see how our predictions hold up.

There’s no denying how comfortable we all feel around family members we love and cherish. Having family around is important for most of us. With the Sox trading for Alonso, they put themselves in a good spot to attract Machado.

Having solid payroll flexibility doesn’t hurt the Sox either and that’s what they have this offseason. After deciding to finally rebuild after the 2016 season, the Sox planned for this very offseason by limiting their long-term commitments. The Sox could very well sign a player to a contract worth more than their current high of $68 million.

Harper or Machado will likely sign a contract worth nearly four times as much as $68 million. The Sox could be that team that signs either player to a contract of close to or more than $300 million. But which player is likely to sign with the Sox? My money is on Machado.

I think Machado signing with the Sox is more likely than Harper. Machado would be a good addition at third base for the Sox and he will be playing with his brother-in-law. The Sox can also afford to offer more than the Yankees for Machado although the 26-year-old has been rumored to be preferring New York.

For Harper, the Sox might not be able to pay to sign him, it’s hard to see this 26-year-old wanting to join a team coming off a 100-loss season. It will take a lot for the Sox to convince Harper that he should join their franchise. Harper would surely bring more attention to the Sox, but it appears he wants to join a team that is closer to contending in 2019.

My predicted salary for each player:

Manny Machado-White Sox, 10 years, $310 million with an opt-out in the third, fourth and fifth year.

Bryce Harper-Nationals, 10 years, $330 million with an opt-out in the second, third and fifth year.

The Dodgers recently gained some payroll flexibility with a trade of Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Alex Wood to the Cincinnati Reds. Los Angeles could add Harper but would need some more flexibility without going over the luxury tax.

Harper’s hometown is Las Vegas and playing with the Dodgers would put him closer to home. Southside Showdown contributor Roger Greathouse predicts Los Angeles as the perfect destination for Harper.

“I believe he signs with the Dodgers. It’s on the west coast, a team that’s in contention right now and close to his home in Vegas.” Roger Greathouse

For Machado, Roger also believes he will sign with the Sox. He points to the fact that Sox manager Rick Renteria and general manager Rick Hahn sold the clubhouse culture very well to Machado along with the influx of young talent coming to the team from the minors. Roger doesn’t think the acquisition of Alonso will be much of a factor in the signing of Machado by the Sox.

Roger’s contract predictions listed below:

Bryce Harper-Dodgers, 10 years, $340 million with an opt-out at the fifth year and a no-trade clause.

Manny Machado-White Sox, 8 years, $265 million with an opt-out at the fourth year and a no-trade clause.

Southside Showdown contributor Joseph Bermudez has an interesting perspective on predicting where Harper and Machado ultimately land this offseason. While Roger predicted Harper signing with the Dodgers, Joseph is leaning towards the Phillies as fit for the free agent outfielder.

“1) The Phillies need a right fielder 2) Andrew Mccutchen and Harper make a nice veteran presence for a young Phils team 3) the Phillies can afford to break the bank on Harper [and going into a bidding war against the Dodgers, they will have to] 4) Phily is only two and half hours away from DC, so the move is not too drastic [unless a drastic move is what he is looking for]. The Phillies are defiantly playoff contenders with Harper. With some minor tweaking and player development, Harper may find a nice home in Philadelphia.” Joseph Bermudez

For Machado, Joseph has the same prediction as Roger with the Sox. Joseph predicts the Sox would be a better fit for Machado long-term as he would fit in nicely as his signing would create a significant buzz in Chicago.

Joseph’s contract predictions listed below:

Bryce Harper-Phillies, 5-7 year contract, $250 million-$290 million

Manny Machado-White Sox, 4-6 year contract, $180 million-$230 million

Southside Showdown contributor Jon Michael Walters made a much different prediction about Harper than Roger and Joseph. Jon predicts that the Sox will indeed sign Harper and it will come down to them and the Phillies.

“It’s hard to speculate because we don’t know what each team is offering. However, if I take my best stab at it I would sayHarper signs with ChiSox, for 330 million over ten years, with an opt-out after four years. The Dodgers would be his first choice but I don’t think they will offer him the quite contract he wants and currently have too many outfielders that can’t be traded. I think he would rather play in Chicago than Philly, and has enough respect for his former team to not sign with one their biggest rivals” Jon Michael Walters

Machado’s prediction from Jon is also different from the majority of Southside Showdown contributors. Jon predicts Machado will sign with the Yankees. Jon predicts Machado will be another Alex Rodriguez for the Yankees.

Jon’s contract predictions listed below:

Bryce Harper-White Sox, 10 years, $330 million with an opt-out after the fourth year.

Manny Machado-Yankees, 10 years, $285 million with an opt-out after third and seventh year and no-trade clause.