Scott Boras Might Have the Biggest Impact On New York Baseball This Year
Sports agent Scott Boras is a lightning rod for some fans. It’s not unusual to see comments like “Boras is killing the sport” after one of his clients signs a mega-deal with some team.
As Major League Baseball pitchers and catchers report this week, teams are sorting through their rosters, looking to see what holes might still remain.
There are a number of high-profile names out there as free agents. Namely, pitchers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, third baseman Matt Chapman, outfielder Cody Bellinger, and designated hitter/outfielder J.D. Martinez.
In addition to them not being signed yet, all of them have something in common – their agent is Scott Boras.
The Scott Boras – New York Factor
There are two other prominent names – both currently on New York rosters – who are also Boras clients.
They would be Juan Soto of the Yankees, and Pete Alonso of the Mets.
Both VERY high profile – and both of whom could very well be wearing different uniforms this time next year depending upon what they, and Boras, decide.
Remember, that the agent’s job in general is to get the best deal possible for his clients. And it’s probably safe to say that if you were a professional athlete, you would want someone like Boras representing you.
It seems odd, though, that just a week away from the start of Spring Training games, players like Snell, Montgomery, Chapman, Bellinger, and Martinez still aren’t signed.
As Ken Rosenthal wrote in The Athletic – “The Boras Four — left-handers Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, center fielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger and third baseman Matt Chapman — have not signed quickly. Like most Boras clients, none came close to an extension. And opt-outs and no-trade clauses figure to be part of their next contracts, as they are for many free agents.”
Some teams – the Dodgers and the Braves are Exhibits A and B – tend to shy away from Boras clients if only because they don’t necessarily want to get into a bidding war with other teams and would prefer to allocate their dollars elsewhere. In the case of the Dodgers, see Shohei Ohtani.
Given the history of Scott Boras and his biggest clients, Soto and Alonso are both going to free agency at the end of the season. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said as much just before the start of Spring Training.
If Pete Alonso is still in a Mets uniform after the trade deadline, it will be pretty shocking.
And unless the Yankees can entice Soto with a contract extension during the season in which they offer him absolutely crazy money, expect there Soto to be courting any and all suitors following the 2024 season.
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