Scott Boras speaks about pitching market and his top clients
Every year player agent Scott Boras arrives at the GM Meetings and Winter Meetings and speaks wit the media. The session is filled, with his opinions and thoughts. Here is a recap of what the baseball agent had to say.
On the Pitching Market
It is no secret that starting pitching will always be a need for almost every team in the offseason. However, this year could be particularly competitive.
Boras told reporters he’s already had seven teams tell him that they are looking for not just one but two starting pitchers. While the market does have talent in the likes of Aaron Nola and Blake Snell, the depth is quite thin in terms of frontline talent.
Teams will have to get creative to fill out their rotation to compete. The trade market might end up being the best or even only route for teams that aren’t willing or aren’t able to spend at the top of the market.
Boras on his top clients
The most entertaining part of listening to Boras about his clients is the puns or analogies he uses to describe a players contract status or current interest from other teams.
Left-handed Chicago Cubs outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger is a free agent who is represented by Boras. When asked about the possibility of the Cubs retaining Bellinger, Boras jokingly said “Chicago got the comforts of a full Belli (y).”
For his other client, Mets slugger Pete Alonso is going to be a free agent after next season. Boras revealed he talked to Mets front office leader David Stearns yesterday in regards to Alonso’s willingness to discuss an extension.
“When it comes to the polar bear, we’re not in contract hibernation,” Boras creatively said. Alonso will be one of the top free agents in next years class if no contract extension is reached this winter.
Like Alonso, Astros stars Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are both free agents after next season. Boras told the media that the Astros have expressed a desire to extend both players, but there have been no discussions yet.
The projected top 2024 free agent, outfielder and elite bat Juan Soto has already been subject to trade rumors as the Padres look to cut payroll.
Boras did his best to squash the talk of perhaps his biggest client being moved. He said that he spoke to the Padres and they have laid out a plan that includes Soto in their lineup next year.
With San Diego hampered with big contracts in Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts, Soto is an obvious trade candidate.
However, if he intends to hit the free agency as most Boras clients do, teams are going to be less willing to give up a massive trade package to acquire someone that might only be a rental.
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