Red Sox may have Scott Boras in a bind as Spring training approaches

With the clock ticking down toward Spring Training, Boras worries about reaching a contract with the Boston Red Sox for his client, J.D.Martinez.

You’re Scott Boras and you are starting to wonder about collusion; are the owner’s working in concert to control the free agent player’s salaries? So, you and the other agents are taking notes, in case the Players Union decides to file a grievance.

You’re Scott Boras and you are starting to believe that, although the best fit for your client, J.D. Martinez, is the Boston Red Sox, Dave Dombroski may not budge on his 5-year, $125 million offer.

He may be concerned that going past five years with your 30-year-old client, will be another salary disaster like:

Miguel Cabrera (34 years old)

Six years, $184 million remaining, plus a vesting option.

David Price (32 years old)

Five years, $157 million remaining, can opt out after this year.

Joey Votto (34 years old)

Six years, $150 million remaining, plus a $7 million buyout.

Max Scherzer (33 years old)

Four years, $148 million remaining, much of it deferred.

Robinson Cano (35 years old)

Six years, $144 million remaining.

Zack Greinke (34 years old)

Four years, $138 million remaining.

Chris Davis (31 years old)

Five years, $115 million remaining.

Albert Pujols (38 years old)

Four years, $114 million remaining, plus a $10 million personal services contract.

You’re Scott Boras and you are wondering if the owners are feeling the luxury tax pinch and are unwilling to sign a free agent who will put them in jeopardy of going over the limit and costing them millions in penalties.

You’re Scott Boras and you remember the time,1984, when former MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth told the owners that their job was not winning trophies, but simply making money and how that lead to collusion among them in 1985, 1986, and 1987 and when the owners paid players $12 million for damages caused by collusion during the 2002-2003 offseason

You’re Scot Boras and you recall how ironic it was that the idea of collusion was brought up originally by the owners, who feared players might try to sell themselves in pairs or other packages; just like Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale did to the Dodgers by bargaining as a duo.

The owners insisted that an anti-collusion policy be included in any agreement with the players union, but it was the owners who got busted several times for working together to tamp down player salaries.

You’re Scott Boras and you look around and you see that although it is believed by many in baseball that starting pitchers peak at age 27, the age for position players is trending toward 32 and you worry about Martinez, already 30.