Southside Showdown
Fansided

What Happens If White Sox Don’t Sign Manny Machado?

By Etheria Modacure

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Former MLB player Frank Thomas and Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers shake hands prior to Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 28: Former MLB player Frank Thomas and Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers shake hands prior to Game Five of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

If White Sox don’t sign Manny Machado, will the offseason be viewed as a failure? Can the Sox sign other players to address their needs?

With each passing day, White Sox fans are hoping that Manny Machado eventually decides on which team he will sign with. The White Sox reportedly made an offer to the superstar free agent earlier in January.

However, we’re close to starting February and Machado still hasn’t signed. Should White Sox fans be concerned? The Sox front office did a good job of addressing their other needs this offseason with the acquisition of Machado’s brother-in-law Yonder Alonso and his good friend Jon Jay.

More from White Sox News

But what happens if Machado doesn’t sign with the White Sox? With the Sox doing everything they can to entice Machado to sign, he could very well sign with another team this offseason. Possibly a team in the National League.

This past weekend at SoxFest, many Sox players expressed their thoughts on the franchise signing Machado this offseason. Some current Sox players even did face time with Machado during the annual fan convention. Yoan Moncada and Jose Abreu joined Alonso in a video chat with Machado last Friday before SoxFest.

Sox players are well aware of how important signing Machado could be for the franchise and the direction they’re going in. With many more prospects coming through the Sox farm system, adding Machado this offseason would help with the team’s goal of having sustained success.

"“I’m not one to play GM and I know I fooled around on Twitter a little bit this offseason. But I think for the most part, we’re a team that’s going to be really capable of winning here pretty soon and with a player of that caliber or whoever it may be, I think (Rick Hahn) is right, we have every right to be in the conversation. It might not seem like it right now to some people but we’re going to be really good.” Michael Kopech"

While many Sox players are on board with Machado signing, there is a possibility that he signs elsewhere. If that happens, the Sox can still add quality players to fill their current void at third base. Mike Moustakas has been a name we’ve discussed a lot at Southside Showdown and with good reason.

Moustakas is a veteran player with a wealth of postseason experience and would fit nicely in the Sox plans to contend over the next few years. Another player the Sox could target if they don’t sign  Machado is Marwin Gonzalez. Unlike Moustakas, Gonzalez can play many positions and wouldn’t be limited to just third base.

If the Sox don’t sign Machado, there will surely be many fans who will blame the front office. Some fans might mention the Sox were never serious about signing the free agent, while others might state that Jerry Reinsdorf was too cheap. Whatever the case may be, Machado currently remains unsigned.

Next. 'The Goose Island' is Newest Ballpark Feature. dark

If the Sox do sign Machado, they will become a better team going into the 2019 season. If Machado signs with another team, the Sox can still sign or trade for other players that will help them compete.

Home/White Sox News