Are there any players on the Chicago Cubs that have Scott Boras as an agent right now?
by braziliancubsfan on Feb 17, 2010 11:18 PM CST
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A couple of days ago, free agent infielder Felipe Lopez fired his agent, Scott Boras, apparently frustrated at his agent for not signing with any teams yet after he had a season in which he hit .310 with 9 homers, 57 RBIs, 88 runs, and a .383 on-base percentage for the Diamondbacks and Brewers. He than joined up with the Beverly Hills Sports Council.
Over the years, I know Scott Boras has been one of the most annoying guy in baseball. He gets lots of players huge contracts, getting some players more money than they deserve. He makes teams that drafted his clients a living hell, take Stephen Strasburg for example, he almost didn't sign with the Washington Nationals after the Nationals picked him with the first pick of the draft. They ended up signing him at the deadline. Strasburg ended up signing for a four year, $15.1M dollar deal, yet he had never thrown a professional pitch. What happens if he gets injured? You just payed someone who has never proved anything outside of college baseball 15.1 million dollars. Same thing goes for the NFL, to all the rookies that come into the league thinking they deserve more money than a guy like Lance Briggs, who has proven more than many of them ever will.
In the seasons that I have become a Cubs fan and a baseball fan, I haven't read anything that involved Scott Boras and the Chicago Cubs in the same sentence. So I know that the Cubs signed Zambrano and Soriano some other players for big money but I don't think, and I also don't know, that if any of their agents is named Scott Boras. I know that the Cubs haven't gone to an arbitration hearing since 1993 with Grace Allen and they might go to another one with Ryan Theriot, so is negotiating contracts a problem with the Cubs? Do fingers point to the agents when a player and a team can't agree on a contract and have to suffer the consequence by going to arbitration for that. If so, than who is Ryan Theriot's agent? Is it Scott Boras, and is anyone on the Cubs that whose agents is Scott Boras?
I started to wonder about what an agent really meant to the players after Lopez fired Boras. Like, how involved are they in their clients' careers, and how an agent can affect a player and the relationship of the team. Do players ever have a voice when they negotiate contracts, or is it the agents that do all the work? Tell me what you know, cause I really don't know that much about the business world in baseball.
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Jeff Baker is the only one
I used this as trivia question in a thread a while back.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 17, 2010 11:44 PM CST reply actions
He was not a Cub when I first did the trivia question.
Thanks for the update.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 18, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
Boras may have gotten some players their paydays
But there are a number of players who clearly miscalculated in negotiations due to Boras. Beyond Lopez, you can look to A-Rod opting out, or Jason Varitek. Johnny Damon will almost definitely also fall into that category.
I suspect you may see more players dropping Boras in the near future . . .
Disagree
I don’t expect any defection from Boras. He had 4 of the top 5 draft picks in last summer’s draft. Boras is the best agent at getting players money. Of course, there are some players that will move to another agent but he’ll continue to get lots of players who want a big payday.
Part of Lopez’ problem is Lopez. He has a bad clubhouse rep everywhere he has been.
You could be right
But I don’t think its true that he gets the best money for everyone. I named 3 other examples in my post and I think they were all caused by Boras inflating expectations of the players and ultimately causing them to leave a good deal money on the table.
I know about Varitek but Lopez?
Did he have a good deal on the table that was passed up?
One point could be that Boras might not be good for players on the downside of their career.
Lopez wasn't one of the three other examples I was citing, but
I don’t see any reason why a player like Lopez isn’t on a team right now for $3-5m. He may not have turned down a large offer like A-Rod, Varitek, and Damon, but that doesn’t mean he’s crappy enough to not be playing for anyone.
As noted above...
… Lopez has a bad clubhouse reputation. He’s not a good enough player, apparently, to overcome that.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I'm not fully aware of the backstory
I know that he had some issues when playing with the Nationals a few years ago . . . fans felt he gave up on the team because they stunk and he wasn’t playing the position he wanted to. Or something like that.
Other than that one issue with one team, I’m not aware of anything. Is there more to the story?
I can't find anything specific other than comments on Lopez
On Lopez in Washington, it wasn’t just the fans who thought that. The team did as well which is why they moved him to St. Louis.
I'm not disagreeing
It sounds like he was pretty crappy to the Nats and their fans that season.
But calling him a clubhouse cancer seems to be way over the top. He made an impact and had no issues with St Louis, Arizona, and Milwaukee. I know we all hate Milton Bradley here, but let’s not try and paint other players with that same brush if it isn’t warranted. Having a bad year (followed by 2 with no issues) could point to personal issues, issues with Nats management, or something else entirely – it doesn’t mean he has a history of being a bad teammate.
No there were rumors and comments from other teams
Cincinnati couldn’t wait to get rid of him hence the trade to Washington that really sent nothing back to the Reds.
maybe Lopez felt Boras was focusing his energy on Damon
and the other top players. Boras has tons of clients, and maybe Lopez wanted to feel special.
by holy mackeral on Feb 21, 2010 12:19 PM CST up reply actions
Didn't A-Rod opting out get him a lot more money?
By “him”, I mean “A-Rod”, and I also mean “Scott Boras”.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
The Yankees stance at the time was the he would have gotten $21.3m more if he didn't opt out
Because that was money the Yankees ended up being on the hook for rather than the Rangers due to the opt out.
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/a-rod-could-opt-back-in-to-the-yankees/
And then they wound up giving him 10 years and $275M.
His previous deal was 10 years, $252M. I doubt that the Yankees were holding that 21.3M against him – they gave him a pretty substantial raise.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
He is one of the top two players in the game
And it was a decade after the previous contract. A decade which saw average player’s salaries grow considerably. I don’t think the fact that his second deal was larger is really relevant given those things.
They may not have docked him the full $21m, but I definitely think he hurt his overall contract by doing that. Remember, Boras was predicting a $350m contract for him back when he opted out.
Hey, maybe. But both contracts are bigger than anything that has happened before or since.
MLBMilestone.com - following the numbers to Cooperstown
I think the cards
will make a serious offer to Pujols BEFORE any kind of bidding war starts. If he hits free agency he won’t be a Cardinal.
Kendry Morales...
…. just dumped the Hendrick Brothers and hired Boras. Since Arte Moreno cannot stand Boras, this ensures Morales’ eventual availability.
"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008
GE Ti
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 18, 2010 10:14 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
GE Ti
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 18, 2010 10:14 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
GE TIT DO NEJ Im
"That pitch wasn’t down and in, that pitch was down and up." Tim McCarver
by wrigleyrocker12 on Feb 18, 2010 10:14 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Several GM's still get sucked in by Boras.
Including the Cardinals, who negotiated against themselves to sign Matt Holliday. Every day that goes by without Johnny Damon being signed I chuckle, because Boras completely misread the market on him, and continues to do so. The Tigers were interested in him, but Boras was pushing for a second year so he could save face with his client, so the Tigers backed off. Love it!
Scott Bora$ is satan.
by Canadian Cubs Fan on Feb 18, 2010 6:10 AM CST reply actions
Actually, this is where I believe...
that Boras is still working his black magic. My theory is that the Tigers aren’t interested at all, but Boras got ownership to neither confirm nor deny that, allowing him to drum up a bit of a market for Damon.
by Damen Jackson on Feb 18, 2010 8:49 AM CST up reply actions
I heard Colin Cowherd talking about this...
He actually got the Cardinals to believe that they signed Holliday to a “discount” $137 million after trying to pimp him for $220 million.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Scott Boras is better at his job
than you are at yours.
His job is to get money. There are no owners begging in the street because Boras beat them in a negotiation.
It’s cute, the little Boras hate that pops up every year. Keep telling yourself he’s finished. Rock yourself to sleep with that little lullaby.
Boras will live forever. The man is indestructible.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
by Worf on Feb 18, 2010 6:43 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
Thank you.
I was just about to go on the same rant. Why do people hate on the guy for being good at his job?
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
It's the same as hating on attorneys...
the greater majority when asked would likely identify this profession as one of the least respectable and “skeeviest” ones out there, from my experience.
That being said, there are plenty of great attorneys who get lumped in to this unfortunately because of reputation. At the same time, there ARE plenty of “skeevy” lawyers.
Same goes for agents. There are many who do their jobs well and in a manner “acceptable” to the outside world. Scott Boras happens to be “good at his job” but often succeeds in ways that feel “skeevy”.
My opinion, Scott Boras IS “skeevy” however no one can argue that he isn’t good at what he does.
Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?
by Kinky Reggae on Feb 18, 2010 8:57 AM CST up reply actions
I only hate on slip-and-fall trial lawyers.
They make sports agents look like Mother Teresa.
"There's more to life than profits...like, you know, slurpees and stuff." ~Randy Marsh
Geez, Worf...
The post hardly sounded like hate, Confusion maybe, but hate is a bit much,.
Fact is, every year Boras’s scorched-earth method leaves a couple of his clients with the short end once the music stops. This year, it looks like Damon and Lopez. It’s been that way for years, but if you weren’t paying attention, you might think that he was slipping a bit.
by Damen Jackson on Feb 18, 2010 8:54 AM CST up reply actions
I'm not sure what your point is.
He’s a bad guy because he’s good at his job or because a couple clients get left in the dust.
Please tell me you aren’t making a case that Damon should be felt sorry for. Reports had him receiving an offer of around $13M from the Yankees and he turned it down.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
My point?
My point is that you can have a conversation about the effectiveness of Boras without it being an issue of hate, jealousy, or envy. There wasn’t anything particularly negative in my opinion from the OP on the subject, so I felt like Worf’s position was a stretch.
Further, I’m fairly indifferent about the contracts of players in general, so I’ve no opinion about Damon or whether anyone should feel sorry for him. I’m simply acknowledging that he seems to be the loser this year in the Boras camp. There are a few high-profile ones every year, and if you weren’t paying attention, you might think that this is an unusual event, leaving one to wonder if he was perhaps losing some of his charm.
And I’m still trying to figure out who called Boras a bad guy. It wasn’t me, and it didn’t seem to be the OP.
by Damen Jackson on Feb 18, 2010 9:41 AM CST up reply actions
Most people think of Boras to be the devil reincarnated.
The OP called Boras “one of the most annoying guy in baseball.” So yes, I would say that is an indication the OP thinks of him as a bad guy.
Your direct response to Worf’s opinion read like an anti-Boras argument.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I don't hate Boras
but I was just stating what I know and what I read about what happened to Lopez. I never called him a bad guy, just said that he was one of the most annoying guys in baseball, which is true. It doesn’t mean that he’s a bad guy
by braziliancubsfan on Feb 18, 2010 3:28 PM CST up reply actions
Well, if the Cubs don't like how Boras works
they have only themselves to blame. They paid for his law school education.
But the Cubs haven’t had a lot of problems with Boras. He was the agent when we signed Maddux as a free agent a few years ago, the Cubs drafted Mark Pawelek even though Boras was his agent, and Hendry doesn’t talk bad about Boras in the press.
Besides Baker, Xavier Nady is a Boras client.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
And don't forget, the best arm to come around since TOM SEAVER
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Joe Mauer
Correct if me i’m wrong but wasnt the only reason the cubs drafted mark prior was because of signability issues with the twins? rather than deal with scott boras the twins took joe mauer instead and left prior for the cubs. what could have been!
I would take prior 10 times out of 10…figure 8 out of those ten he doesn’t run into terrible luck and the dusty “let’s ruin everyone arm by throwing 150 pitches because we think its 1960 and they throw half-arsed in innings 1-6” Baker train. Had prior not suffered so many pitches or freak injuries I think he would be the ace of the nl today
I saw you in that coffee shop, breaking the fifth commandment. Congress passes these things for a reason, Lois.
Currently 34,839 on the Season Ticket Wait List - Expected age of being #0: 119
by hansman1982 on Feb 21, 2010 11:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
He was released
Never got past Boise. Big disappointment.
by Josh Timmers on Feb 18, 2010 2:12 PM CST up reply actions
for those of a mind to answer, would
you rather the Cubs draft a Boras client at sixteen in round one, or would you prefer they get a ‘more signable guy, and throw more money at later round guys. I’ve thought about it a bit, and I’m torn. It depends on the options, but I thought I’d throw it out there as the thread is up.
Honestly, I'm not sure
the amateur players Boras has represented have turned out to be any more successful than other players. Seems like they have a whole lot of hype though.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Feb 18, 2010 4:47 PM CST up reply actions
Did you mean Gracie Allen?
What is this guy Boras? Does he own a Delorean that can fly? Did he represent George as well?
“Say good night, Gracie”
"Ask Dad. He'll know. And on the off chance he doesn't, he'll make something up"
I only saw this in the Fan Post list
Are there any players on the Chicago Cubs that have Scott
I really thought this was a post about players with Scottish heritage. And that would have been fun to discuss.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
Fun fact:
Bobby Thompson is the only modern-era Cub who was born in Scotland.
Of course, he’s better known for what he did when he played for the Giants…
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
by hip2bsquare on Feb 18, 2010 10:33 AM CST up reply actions
Like other Cubs acquisitions, his best years were behind him.
I didn’t know know poor trend extended so far back. Maybe it’s carved into a desk in the GM’s office.
Great picture.
"On offense, your most precious possessions are your 27 outs" - Earl Weaver
by RiskyBusiness on Feb 18, 2010 11:02 AM CST up reply actions
Modern Era?
Does the modern era change as the years go on? Does it only go back 30 years (1980)? Or does it go back to say 1950 (60 years)?
What defines the modern era of baseball?
These are the questions that keep me up at night.
I'm Buck Melanoma. Moley Russell's wart. Not her wart. Not her wart! I'm... I'm the wart. She's my tumor. My... my growth. My... uh, my pimple. I'm Uncle Wart. Just old Buck "Wart" Russell. That's what they call me, or Melanoma Head. - Uncle Buck
by Andiamo Cuccioli on Feb 22, 2010 3:01 PM CST up reply actions
What defines the modern era of baseball?
post deadball era
by jesus christos on Feb 22, 2010 7:49 PM CST up reply actions
Also once Boras is gone
There is going to be someone just as unlikable as him taking his place.
"I cherish this dream I had as a little kid to play baseball,'' Ted Lilly
by Madison Cub Fan on Feb 18, 2010 10:20 AM CST reply actions
That will be an accomplishment.
He’s one of the most disliked figures in baseball today.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
And yet...
Bud Seilig gets his own statue.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Speaking of Damon.
Looks like the White Sox are now front runners for him.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100217&content_id=8089214&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
If they...
… could coax Shea Hillenbrand out of retirement, they’d get a lot closer to their apparent goal — to reconstitute the teams from the 2002 All-Star Game. You know, the one that ended in a tie.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Signing Damon does make sense for them, though
Without him they’d probably have Alex Rios, Juan Pierre, and Andruw Jones as everyday players. Ouch.
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
by hip2bsquare on Feb 18, 2010 11:01 AM CST up reply actions
Unless they want Damon to DH for them...
… their outfield defense is going to be horrendous.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I think their OF defense is gonna be bad no matter what
But I’ve read that Damon would primarily be a DH for them, FWIW.
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.
by hip2bsquare on Feb 18, 2010 11:24 AM CST up reply actions
I thought Ozzie was set on the rotation of DH's
That’s why they didn’t go after Thome….
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
by Musicdude10 on Feb 19, 2010 12:50 PM CST up reply actions
Let's hope it gets the same result
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
Surprised they didn't go after Gagne
Could have been had for cheap too
"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck
by Musicdude10 on Feb 19, 2010 12:49 PM CST up reply actions
Zambrano used to be a Borass client.
But Z fired him. I’m guessing it’s because he wanted to sign an extension with the Cubs but that’s not the Borass way. It was refreshing to see a player take charge of his own future instead of letting the agent do it for him.
I know there are collusion rules and all
But seriously, why don’t teams tell Bore Ass to jump in a lake. Just because an agent has high demands, doesn’t mean owners have to bow to his wishes.
13- Warner, 23- Sandberg, 40- Tillman, 11- Walter
Maddux had Boras as his agent for 25 years
I remember a great line from Kevin Towers, the former GM of the Padres, Maddux re-signed quickly with the Padres at the end of the 07 season and Towers said that unlike his other clients, Maddux told Boras what to do. Boras cannot force a player to do something he does not want to do. Boras helped Maddux get a contract with Braves after the Cubs screwed around with him and the Yankees had offered Maddux five million MORE than the Braves. Boras is very good at persuading owners to overpay for a lot of guys, but in the end it is the player and the team who are responsible for the contract , Boras only negotiates it.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
You said
Boras cannot force a player to do something he does not want to do.
I’m not so sure about that. Greg Maddux is a smart guy, and obviously tells his agent what to do. I’m not so sure a lot of his other clients don’t let Boras set the agenda.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I am sure many, if not most of his clients let him set the agenda
but in the end the player has to be responsible for his own decisions.
Boras is also pretty good about requiring clients to do some kind of savings & investing as well as giving to charity. I don’t personally like the guy, but he does the job he is paid to do.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 18, 2010 1:52 PM CST up reply actions
Anyone who signs on with Boras understands the ground rules.
I don’t think there’s any question about that. I am sure they are counseled as to what to expect.. Boras wouldn’t be as successful as he is if clients bailed or short circuited his negotiations because of their own wishes. They can do whatever they want, of course, but they probably wouldn’t remain a Boras client very long. Boras needs a client’s absolute compliance to do the high wire act he does.
Players like Maddux are a different situation. They have major status and have already banked the money. Now it’s about the intangibles.
If a player doesn’t mind sitting out on a limb for an extended period in order to get the big prize, Boras is the right guy. Otherwise they need to hire a different agent because Boras expects his clients to play his game.
To be fair to Boras
Maddux’s 1993 5 year contract with the Braves was his first big money contract. Boras accepted that Maddux wanted the Braves (or Cubs till the end) over the Yankees. Maddux was more than happy to play along (being wined & dined in New York) to get the Braves to up their pice. In the end Maddux took 5 million less and I don’t think Boras had a problem with that.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Feb 18, 2010 2:41 PM CST up reply actions
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