We are going to draw some controversy for this column. I have a friend who says that I personalize my feelings about super agent Scott Boras. Because while it's true that Bora drives up the cost for Major League teams on the clients he represents, there is at the present time a tremendous list of clients being paid millions of dollars to not play for their teams. Don't get me wrong, Yankee pitcher Gerrit Cole is a Scott Boras client, and he looks likely to win the American League Cy Young Award. But he is a rarity. An exception. The list of clients that missed significant parts of Major League seasons is disturbing. And of course an ugly incident occurred when Steven Strasburg announced his retirement from the Washington Nationals. But let's get to the list.
 |
| Super Agent Scott Boras File Photo |
The 2019 Washington Nationals won the World Series. This was turned into a giant payday for Scott Boras. He was able to get his client Steven Strasburg, a seven-year contract paying him $35 million per season. An astronomical figure for a pitcher with such consistent arm problems. Strasburg made two starts in the COVID shortened 2020 season because of arm problems. He pitched in five games in the 2021 season, missing considerable time with arm injuries. He pitched twice in the 2022 season due to continued injury. He has been unable to successfully rehab his arm in 2023 and made a mutual decision with the Washington Nationals to retire. Of course negotiations have gone very slowly with the Nationals to pay off the remaining two seasons of his contract. For a guy that has been paid so well and treated so generously by the Washington Nationals it is disturbing to see such petty negotiating from a player who has not performed. But this is par for the course with Scott Boras.
Another player from the 2019 World Series winning Nationals left as a free agent and signed a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Angels. Anthony Rendon has played in 43 games for the Angels in 2023 and missed major portions of the 2021and 2022 seasons. 3rd baseman and outfielder Kris Bryant, signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies prior to the 2022 season. Bryant appeared in 52 games for his new employer in 2022 and has appeared in 43 games in 2023. Yes the considerable time missed is due to injury. Bryce Harper is another Scott Boras client who has had a relatively injury free history until tearing the UCL ligament in his elbow requiring the dreaded Tommy John surgery.
Not all Scott Boras advised clients become superstars pulling in huge paydays and long contracts. The once highly touted Cincinnati outfielder Nick Senzel is a Scott Boras client. Senzel can’t stay on the field and can't accumulate service time. It is uncanny. Another Scott Boras advised client is LF/1B Cody Bellinger. Bellinger missed major parts of 2 seasons due to shoulder injury and the Los Angeles Dodgers made the decision to non-tender him a contract. They were frustrated with Bellinger’s injury and wondered if a change of scenery would do him good. The Chicago Cubs took a chance and offered him a 1-year, $17.5 million contract. His career has gotten back on track in 2023 and he is hitting .320 with 24 home runs and close to 20 stolen bases in mid-September. This comeback of course prompted Scott Boras to declare that Bellinger would go into free agency being worth at least a $200 million dollar deal and possibly a $300 million dollar contract. At age 28, Boras is clearly thinking that a 10-year, $30 million dollar contract would be appropriate for his client. Run for the hills I say. I can almost start counting the days until his previous shoulder injuries return in full force after signing a long term deal.