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November 12, 2007

Blame It on Boras etc… Collusion, Torre and Hot Rumors

So many people would love to blame most of today’s free agency problems or baseball problems on George Steinbrenner… mostly for his wild spending back in the days when the Bronx was really burning by giving Reggie Jackson everything under the sun to play for his Yankees.  Sure Steinbrenner had and still has the money to spend – but theoretically, Steinbrenner or the other owners really aren’t the problem.  The problem children are the players’ agents – specifically just one of the hundreds that represent the thousand or so players throughout baseball… that one specific is Scott Boras.

It’s hard to imagine that Boras once milked cows and drove tractors on his father’s dairy farm… of course that was long before he became the one man most owners and general managers hate, but players love. 

Today, Boras is a very, very rich man thanks to that 5 percent skim off the top of every client’s new contract.  That skim has enabled him to have prime seats in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Oakland to name a few.

The tractor has become a Range Rover (one of many vehicles that Boras owns) and living on the farm has turned into a mountain top mansion in Orange County, California with a view to die for.  The dairy farm for Scott Boras is now the Boras Corporation, headquartered in Newport Beach, California, where he has a staff of 45 on-site (from marketing to attorneys, an investment team, five personal trainers, a psychologist, a 14-person research staff) along with another 35 stationed around the world.  Inside, there is a panoramic wall of baseballs. There are 10 XM satellite receivers, 32 television receivers, 43 desks, 50 computers and 70 flat-screen TVs. There’s a full kitchen, laundry room, gym, shower, five-TV lounge and a hotel-sized patio with a 15-foot waterfall, fire pit and barbeque.

His biggest client – Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez… the $252-dollar million man, is about to become the $350-million dollar man (A-Rod opt-out of his contract with the Yankees and Boras said two of the reasons were his concerns about free agents Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera and how the club will be operated under Hank and Hal Steinbrenner) if he (Boras) has his way.  Anytime you have the chutzpah to demand such money and get-it, one wonders how it was possible and why the owners would actually give-in to those demands.  Boras is smart, Boras is cruel.  He knows exactly what he’s doing and how to get it.

Back in 2000 when Boras was negotiating A-Rod’s 10-year, $252-million dollar contract with the Texas Rangers he added a stipulation to the contract: An opt-out clause after the seventh year.  Did the Rangers question this opt-out clause?  Of course not.  Boras though was already thinking about the future.  He knew that after the seventh year Rodriguez would be 32 – his peak age, and that he (Boras) wanted to give A-Rod the option of a new deal when he was in his prime.  Boras also knew that the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) would be at least a year old and that because of it, teams would be confident that revenue streams were solid – meaning that teams would be able to afford his terms.

When Rodriquez was traded to the Yankees in 2004, it insured Boras that A-Rod would be in the perfect place at the perfect time for the biggest possible payday – one problem though; Boras didn’t predict that A-Rod would have the monster season he had. 

In addition to the opt-out clause, there was another one that stated he can’t be offered arbitration at the end of the pact, meaning the Yankees couldn’t reap compensatory draft picks when A-Rod signs with another team… not the case though.  The Yankees will get their picks because A-Rod chose to opt out before the contract ended.  According to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, “MLB took a stance at the beginning, with the Rangers that the clause would apply at the end, not if they terminate the contract early” Cashman said. “That was clarified at the beginning. (MLB) told us this early this summer, too. I have it in writing, so I’m not worried. Rob Manfred (MLB’s executive vice president for labor relations and human resources) confirmed it to me. We can offer arbitration.”

Cashman said that the Yankees have until December 1^st to offer him arbitration and will do so.  Rodriguez then has six days to accept or reject.  So far, Scott Boras hasn’t made an issue of it nor has he made any comments in regards to this “flaw.”

As far as arbitration goes, the Yankees’ bid would have to be at least $32-million a year to prevent being laughed out of the room – but its likely Boras would counter with $40 to $45 million. Before A-Rod opted out, the Yankees asked for a meeting and were told by Boras the starting numbers are $350-million.  Since close to 90 percent of arbitration cases are settled before the decision, the likelihood is they could split the difference and settle… thus making Boras a happy man and sticking it by telling everyone, “Alex loves New York, he never wanted to leave the Yankees.”

Skim through the many baseball blogs or message boards and all is read about is A-Rod and his greed for more money.  Rodriguez has allowed himself to be defined more by the money than by his production – thanks to Scott Boras for showing him the way.

As stated earlier, many have said that Boras is ruining baseball from an economical standpoint… but could it be more than just that?  ESPN’s Peter Gammons though thinks so.  He thinks that Boras’ private sporting institute was literally making players worse and was responsible for the struggles of Barry Zito and Mark Teixeira this year.  Gammons also thinks that the instruction given by some of the coaches in the institution has “ruined” several former top prospects, including Red Sox prospect Craig Hansen.

In July, Boras requested that Daisuke Matsuzaka’s pitch count be lowered… “I’d rather see him throw closer to 100 pitches than 120 pitches,” Boras said. Red Sox manager Terry Francona took the suggestion in stride.  Later on Francona said, “I’ve got a lot of respect for Scott, I really do,” Francona said. “He can run the pitching when he lets me run the contracts, how’s that?  Is that a fair tradeoff?”  Touché!

Boras today has a handful of potential up and coming players that could very well become the stars of tomorrow… he also has a handful (whom he calls stars) that will become wealthy and overpaid players.

For instance, last season the market allowed Gil Meche to become a $55-million man based on potential alone last off-season – this season, Kyle Loshe is one of just a few premier pitchers available… will he and could he become another $55-million dollar man?   Could be; as Boras is seeking a 5-year, $50-million plus deal.

Last year, Boras successfully landed J.D. Drew $70-million dollars with Boston, and, of course, helped Zito obtain $126-million, ridiculously high numbers that neither player deserved after ending up with not-so-good productive 2007 campaigns. 

This off-season there’s Andruw Jones, whose 2007 season was horrible compared to his previous years with Atlanta.  Jones wanted to remain with Atlanta, but the Braves would not meet his asking price. Boras says that Jones will receive about 15 offers worth the $20-million annually he’s seeking… IMHO, that’s $10-million more than he deserves per year.

Torii Hunter could actually get more money than Jones because of his productive 2007 season.  In late August, Hunter rejected an offer of 4 years, $56-million to remain with the Twins.  He also rejected a 3-year, $45-million offer.  Boras is looking at a 6-years, $100-million plus.

Eric Gagne started the season fairly strong in Texas and finished in Boston ($6-million 1-year deal signed by Texas), where he was a complete bust.  Gagne was set to make about $9 million in 2007, but his poor second half cost him the big bucks, which may have been the result of the change in his pitching role (from closer to setup).  Boras undoubtedly will command $6-9 million per year.

Then there’s Jeff Weaver, who settled on a 1-year deal at $8.3-million from the Mariners… Scott Boras will probably try for another one-year deal hoping his numbers improve enough next season for a big payday.  The list goes on and on…

All I know is that if I had the opportunity to have Scott Boras as my agent, knowing that he’d be able to “show me and get me the money” I’d be a fool on the hill if I didn’t – despite the fact that he’s ruined the game, that he as cruel as they come and that he thinks’ he’s the real commissioner of baseball.

Meanwhile, the players’ union is worried that baseball commissioner Bud Selig is trying to hold down the price of Rodriguez’s next contract and that teams might be sharing information about their free-agent plans – a.k.a Collusion.

During the GM meetings last week in Orlando, the players’ union released a statement Thursday after the meetings ended.  “Over the past few days, press reports coming out of the general managers’ meetings relating to the sharing of information between clubs as to their plans regarding players potentially raise serious questions concerning the fairness and integrity of the free-agent market.  Such questions are amplified by reports stating that the commissioner is attempting to influence the market for at least one player.”

A person familiar with the union’s statement said the player in question was Rodriguez.  The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the statement didn’t refer to A-Rod by name.  Rob Manfred, executive vice president of labor relations in the commissioner’s office, denied that there was any improper conduct.

Despite the media attention over the years given to the on again, off again relationship between Joe Torre and A-Rod, Torre thinks’ there is a chance that Rodriguez could join him in working for the Dodgers.  “It’s possible, when you’ve got four or five clubs maybe that figure to be in the sweepstakes.  There aren’t a lot of clubs that are going to be able to pay the money,” said Torre speaking before his Safe at Home Foundation’s annual gala.   When asked his on again, off again relationship, Torre said, “All I know is it was very comfortable for both of us.  I think my being uncomfortable came from the fact that I didn’t think he was comfortable.  This year he just seemed to be a different guy in spring training.”

The off-season wouldn’t be the off-season without those hot rumors… its Hot Stove time folks, so here’s the latest gossip – team-by-team from in and around the baseball world.

If you like this column, Althea also writes the NHL Insider, the Rays Corner and Lightning Nutz and Boltz all while serving as VP of Sports for NutzMedia.  Listen to Althea on TBSNRadio510.com weekdays, live from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm as Althea Co-hosts "Speaking of Sports" with Ted Fleming.

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