From Ambulance Chaser to Anti-Christ
Written by Daniel Turner, Thursday September 10 2009
Scott Boras has been called many names by MLB owners, GM’s and fans. Boras, who made it up to AA in the Cubs organization, is so hated by the North sides cross town rival White Sox that they refuse to consider signing one of his clients. Even the Yankees refused to allow him in the room when they renegotiated with Alex Rodriquez. Imagine being considered more offensive to the senses than A-Rod. It’s that type of attitude that has caused baseball folks to label Boras the Anti-Christ of negotiators.
Boras is a hardnosed negotiator who is willing to admit that he overprices his clients. After putting the Yankees over a barrel for the services of Bernie Williams Boras admitted the $87.5 million obtained from the Bronx bankrollers was wages for a 40 homerun hitter given to a 20 homerun hitter. It’s that type of deal that caused Boras to set up a separate marketing company for his charges, so they can make endorsement money without companies blowing them off based solely upon their agent’s name. Impact Marketing is the name of his side venture to continue to line his client’s pockets with money from Gator Ade, Nike, etc.
Being known as baseball’s most hated man is an accomplishment of dubious merit when you are competing with the likes of Barry Bonds and Jose Canseco, but Boras earned that title by driving hard bargains that often had teams pay off far more than what was given in return. He even managed to shake $15.67 million from the reeling Nationals for the services of Stephen Strasburg. The Nats have four years to determine if it was millions well spent.
Although it may not have been evident in his time spent playing second base in the Cubs organization, Boras is a game changer. While toiling in the lower leagues he began representing team mates. This interest in negotiation led him to pursue a law career. It is reported that Boras earned his J.D. from Pacific University on the Cubs dime. I’m not certain why the Cubs would have agreed to such a deal, but I also can’t explain the lowly Nationals parting with over $15 million for one player when their entire roster needs overhauling.
Boras began his legal career representing claimants in medical malpractice suits. Eventually boring of nailing doctors who left a sponge in the heart along with the stent he returned to his minor league passion of representing baseball players. If the White Sox already hate the Cubs imagine how they feel about Boras earning his degree thanks to Cubbie dollars.
Along with the exorbitant contracts Boras’ major change in the way players are signed was by urging clients to sit out the draft if the bonus wasn’t as high as demanded. Free agency began to chase away the plantation owner mentality of how MLB owners viewed their players, but having a player willing to sit out a season to re-enter the draft was the equivalent of the Emancipation Proclamation.
When Stephen Drew and Jered Weaver decided to follow their siblings into the Majors they did it a year later than expected. Both were advised by Boras to say no to the 2004 draft and wait for the money to flow. It turned out to be a good move for both since they entered the league in ’05 and didn’t have to re-enter the draft. Stephen probably wasn’t surprised by the move since big bro J.D. had been instructed to thumb his nose at the Phillies and entered into a convoluted negotiation sequence that had him and Boras swearing they had never received a Phillies contract that was shipped Fed Ex even though it has been signed for at the Boras offices. A World Series win has lessened the level of disdain, but Phillies fans have been quick to voice their displeasure at J.D. whenever given the opportunity.
When your negotiation form resembles a Forman vs. Frazier bout you are bound to have some that don’t go as planned. One such negotiation occurred during the 2007 World Series. As the Red Sox were busy proving beating the curse wasn’t a fluke, Boras announced that Alex Rodriquez was opting out of his contract with the Yankees. Everyone other than A-Rod and Boras felt this was bad timing and the Yankees were especially appalled since they had to deal with Rodriquez and forced to appear that they were trying to steal the spotlight from their hated rivals.
The timing of the move caused the Yankees to shut Boras out of the negotiations and, after Rodriquez emerged all the wealthier for the effort, led him to dismiss Boras completely and hire Guy Oseary as his agent. While A-Rod was computing the money being offered by the Yankees and being courted by Oseary who was looking to trade in his record industry career for a shot at becoming another Arliss, Kenny Rogers announced he was dropping Boras as his agent and handling his own negotiations. Had he not bamboozled the Dodgers into paying a King’s ransom for Andruw Jones it might have signaled the end of Boras’ reign of terror in terms of contract negotiation.
While the Yankees may have been paying Bernie 40 homerun hitter wages for hitting 20 at least he hit them. Jones anemic showing with the Dodgers simply provided further evidence that Boras can set the bar as high as he wants and pocket the money before expectation crashes into reality. Ability of that nature makes Boras as highly desired by clients as ever while adding to the vitriol felt by owners and GM’s forced to deal with the second baseman turned agent turned ambulance chaser turned Anti Christ. The White Sox may have barred the door, but the Yankees were willing to forgive and forget as quickly as by next season when they opened their wallets even further to welcome in Boras’ brood by offering Mark Teixeira more than the GNP of most developing nations to play first base in their new digs. It was just another day at the office for the Anti Christ.
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2 comments
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Good, informational read. Good to have you back.
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Mr.Turner, Welcome back!