White Sox appear to have offered an eight-year deal to one of the top two free agents this offseason. Will it be enough?
The offseason for the White Sox has seen the front office address some needs for the team. There has also been constant speculation on the Sox efforts to sign one of the top two free agents available.
While the Sox have had individual meetings with Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, it appears they’re more focused on signing Machado. A recent report from Jeff Passan of ESPN.com mentions the Sox have offered Machado an eight-year contract and could be compelled to go even longer.
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Another report from Hector Gomez states the White Sox offered an eight-year, $250 million deal to Machado. While both Passan and Gomez have reported the Sox have offered an eight-year deal to Machado, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported the Sox have not increased their original offer of seven years to Machado.
Whatever the case may be in regards to how many years the Sox have offered, the aggressiveness shown by the front office in their pursuit of Machado is a good sign. With the Philadelphia Phillies reportedly emerging as favorites to sign Harper, the Sox chances of signing Machado continues to increase.
The Sox have never signed a player to a contract worth more than $68 million and they have the opportunity to sign a superstar free agent this offseason. If they’re able to sign Machado to a franchise record-breaking contract, it could signal to fans that the Sox are committed to building a team that can sustain success.
At 26, Machado will fit nicely into the Sox plans for contending for multiple championships. The Sox appear to have strong momentum towards getting a deal done to sign Machado this offseason. Machado signing with the Sox won’t make them contenders this upcoming season necessarily. But it would give the Sox a better shot at becoming relevant again sooner than later.