One somewhat unlikely suitor is reportedly looking to upend the MLB free agent market this winter.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Chicago White Sox are interested in signing both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper this winter, and have the financial flexibility to pull it off.
#WhiteSox interested in *both* Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, source confirms, although it’s too early to know how realistic it is for them to sign either. #WhiteSox have second lowest current 2019 payroll commitment of any @MLB team. Story: https://t.co/vSXgIqh3VL @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 5, 2018
Projections have the White Sox owing a little over $50 million in salary for Opening Day 2019 solely based on the players currently under club control. In other words, they have a lot of money to spend and could make a Machado/Harper combination happen. There’s plenty of reason to believe the interest is legitimate, as the White Sox wanted Machado last winter when it appeared Baltimore might trade him.
The big question is whether Machado or Harper would want to play for the White Sox, who are still very much in the midst of a rebuilding phase. Yes, two players of that caliber could turn things around quickly, and top prospect Eloy Jimenez is on the verge of breaking through to the big leagues as well, but this is still a team fresh off a 100-loss season.
