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.
More from Red Sox News
- Red Sox Nation deserves far more from Fenway Sports Group
- Bizarre trade deadline comes back to haunt Red Sox after Nathan Eovaldi departure
- Red Sox’ Moneyball-style offseason continues with Corey Kluber contract
- Rich Hill’s Red Sox departure puts him within striking distance of unique MLB record
- Red Sox offseason takes another nasty hit with Nathan Eovaldi departure
You’re Scott Boras and you are wondering why are so many of your high-value free agents, like Martinez, Eric Hosmer, Yu Darvish, Lorenzo Cain, Jake Arrieta, Mike Moustakas are still unsigned with Spring Training just a month away. You wonder if your clients are outliers with their demands for big amounts for long terms at age 30, and the least likely to get contracts.
You’re Scott Boras and you are worried that the Red Sox have you in a bind; very few teams have the kind of payroll to handle $20-$25 million a year for a long-term contract. Of that group, there were two who were desperate for offensive; the Giants and the Red Sox.
You’re Scott Boras and you are getting worried, now that the Giants have signed two veteran power bats with Longoria and McCutchen, it essentially leaves Boston as the only serious buyer for Martinez.
You’re Scott Boras and you are blowing smoke about maturing players:
"“This is where we get into mass analytics vs. compartmental analytics…Study the qualifiers, boys. Study the players who are really good.”"
But, you’re the one who’s feeling the heat.