Is low offer indicative of Machado’s real market?

Reported 7-year, $175 million deal less than predicted.

CHICAGO — The White Sox repeatedly warn fans not to believe every rumor they hear concerning the team’s offseason pursuits.

Just a few days ago a source denied an ESPN report saying the Sox had offered Manny Machado eight years, instead of seven, to play on the South Side.

But the Sox can’t stop rumors from spreading like wildfire, and on Wednesday came another ESPN report: The seven-year offer was for $175 million — an average annual value of $25 million.

While that’s certainly a sizable offer — and $107 million more than the biggest contract the Sox have given (the six-year, $68 million deal to Jose Abreu in 2014) — it’s far less than what Machado reportedly expected, not to mention much lower than what fellow free agent Bryce Harper expects to receive when he eventually signs.

Harper reportedly rejected a 10-year, $300 million offer from the Nationals in September and is seeking to top the record 13-year, $325 million deal the Marlins gave Giancarlo Stanton in 2015. Machado wants to get what Harper gets, if not more.

Sports Illustrated called the alleged $175 million offer “laughable” and “an insultingly low-ball figure.” Many speculated the Yankees easily could top the Sox’s offer, though so far they’ve remained on the periphery of the pursuit and reportedly haven’t made an offer.

If the Sox’s offer to Machado really is the highest, it could explain why he has yet to sign. A $175 million deal would be tied for the 18th highest in major-league history, less than the $184 million deal the Cubs handed Jason Heyward before the 2016 season.

Would Machado’s ego allow him to accept such a deal?

Only one year ago everyone was asking why the top free agents weren’t getting their expected megadeals. Last January at the Cubs Convention, Chairman Tom Ricketts theorized “a lot of teams out there would rather have dry powder a year from now.” That was in reference to the current free-agent class of Harper, Machado, Josh Donaldson and others.

But Donaldson signed a one-year, $23 million deal with the Braves after an injury-marred season with the Blue Jays and Indians, and the markets for Harper and Machado have been limited to less than a handful of teams, including the Phillies and Sox, both of whom have pursued both.

It certainly makes no sense for the Sox to make another offer to Machado and bid against themselves. Team Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t crazy.

If the Phillies do sign Harper, the Sox should be the last team standing for Machado, who would fall into their lap at a “bargain” price considering his age — 26 — and career numbers.

Reinsdorf would not only get a premier player to become the new face of the organization, the Sox would have financial flexibility to spend more next offseason, when presumably they’ll be in better position to contend in 2020 with the maturation of their young team and the arrivals this year of top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease. And if Machado rejects the Sox’s offer, well, at least fans know they tried.