White Sox Update – January 12, 2019

With the Manny Machado sweepstakes heating up, here’s the latest news and rumors pertaining to the Chicago White Sox.

• • The only direct White Sox news that came on Friday was the announcement that the team avoided arbitration with the four following players:
• • • • Jose Abreu – $16 million
• • • • Alex Colome – $7.325 million
• • • • Yolmer Sanchez – $4.625 million
• • • • Carlos Rodon – $4.2 million

• • pic.twitter.com/eZVnYMz6pe

• • — Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) January 12, 2019

• • The Yankees agreed to terms with 2B DJ LeMahieu on a 2-year, $24 million deal. The signing likely rules New York out of the Manny Machado sweepstakes, as the team has still not given Machado an official offer.

• • In Manny Machado market, #Yankees have trailed #Phillies and #WhiteSox in seriousness of interest. With DJ LeMahieu nearing a 2-year deal with Yankees, Machado’s chances of going to New York have narrowed further. @MLBNetwork @MLB

• • — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 11, 2019

• • The signing also came just a day after Hector Gomez of Z101 Digital reported that the race for Manny was down to two teams, the White Sox and Phillies.

• • SOURCE: The race to sign Manny Machado is down to two teams – the #Phillies and the #WhiteSox.#ZDigital #ZDeportes @z101digital @ZDeportes

• • — Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 9, 2019

• • Credit to @hgomez27, whose reporting earlier this week indicated #Phillies and #WhiteSox were more serious than the #Yankees in their pursuit of Manny Machado.

• • — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 12, 2019

• • Bob Nightengale of USA Today reiterated that even with the LeMahieu signing, New York is still not officially out of the Machado sweepstakes.

• • The #Yankees will tell you they were never ‘in’ on Machado, and rival executives believed the past week they were telling the truth, but until today, no one was really convinced. Yet, even now, the Yankees have not publicly said they are out.

• • — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 12, 2019

• • However, Nightengale believes it is unlikely that the Yankees extend an offer.

• • The #Whitesox and #Phillies certainly a lot more confident now over chances of landing Machado, with #Yankees now unlikely to make offer after landing DJ LeMahieu

• • — Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 11, 2019

• • Jon Heyman of FanCred sports reports that Machado’s camp is saying there is a “mystery team” in the hunt for Machado.

• • Machado camp is telling some folks there’s a mystery team in addition to Chisox, Phils. Validity is unknown.

• • — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) January 11, 2019

• • As Heyman said in his tweet, the validity of this is unknown. One can speculate and say that Machado’s camp is using this as a negotiation tactic in attempt to drive up the offers from the known teams still in the race.
• • Manny Machado’s high school coach Lazaro Fundora said in an article with NJ.com that he believes he will sign with the White Sox. “Anybody would like to wear those pinstripes, would love to play with the Yankees. I think that’s definitely up there. But as far as where he could play shortstop, for instance, that’s why I think the White Sox could be it.” For the full article, click here.
• • Rick Hahn commented on the White Sox rumors on Thursday.

• • Hahn on the major FA pursuit: “There certainly have been points between the start of the offseason and now, where I would’ve guessed it would’ve potentially been resolved in the not too distant future …..

• • — Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 10, 2019

• • Rick Hahn on the Hot Stove rumor mill: “I try to keep my fan hat on so to speak. I try to hearken back to the days when I would run home from school and call Sports Phone and probably hear George [Ofman] on it with an update on what was going in free agency. I respect it.”

• • — Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) January 10, 2019

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Featured Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images