Scott Boras, did you ever know that you're my hero?
I was frantically working on the Yankees' manager story last night, barely paying attention to World Series Game 4, when I received an Instant Message from Newsday teammate Jim Baumbach.
"Did you see Heyman's story about A-Rod opting out?" Jim wrote.
At that point, I'm pretty sure I looked like Large Marge from "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure."
But I recovered, and our Yankees beat writer Kat O'Brien did terrific work in getting Boras on the phone, herself, and now the baseball offseason looks dramatically different than it did 24 hours ago.
We'll analyze, soon enough, what the Yankees' options are. But today, let's salute A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, who completely outwitted the Yankees' executives. Really, what Boras did was stand up to the Yankees' bullying ways, similar to how Clifford stood up to Moody in the underrated "My Bodyguard."
All along, the Yankees figured that A-Rod wouldn't leave, that he wouldn't find a better offer elsewhere (and to be fair, I agreed with them - but I don't get paid the big bucks to follow through on such hunches). So they figured they could issue threats, as Hank Steinbrenner did repeatedly (near the bottom of the story), without any accountability.
Now, the Yankees either have to let A-Rod go without even meeting with him in person to discuss the future, or they have to go back on their word and compete with everyone else for A-Rod's services. And the festivities to introduce their new manager have been completely upstaged by Boras and A-Rod.
Boras may strike you as cold-blooded, but he is nothing short of brilliant. If you hate the Yankees, you have to love him today. And, even better, if you hate bullies, then you, too, have to sign up for Boras Worship.
Man, is this winter going to be fascinating.
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Comments (11)
Sorry but to portray Boras and A-Rod as victims' of bullying is the most riduculous thing I have ever read.
Yes, Boras is my hero, because he just made the Yankees a better team. For the 30 mil A-F*ck wants we will get 2 quality pitchers in Santana and Willis. And if A-Rod did not have an idea where the organization was going he might as well by a jackass outfit for halloween cause that is how he will look when Rivera and Posada resign and then Pettitte opts in and stays. This is good for the Yankees cause IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT AROD, ITS ALL ABOUT WINNING A WORLD SERIES AND AROD PROVED HE CANT DO THAT.....SEE YA, ENJOY WRITING BOOKS
Sorry, Ken, I have to disagree. Bora$$ is the biggest bully out there, and neither he nor A-Fraud will ever be thought of as victims of anything but their own greed and ego.
Ken, I would get out of the mile high air in Denver, because your logic makes you sound like you are either suffering from altitude sickness, an alcoholic, or you are smoking whatever Marbury smokes.
You are sooo right Ken, Alex and Boras "sticking it to the man"
ROLLS EYES
What is it about former/current Newsday staffers that make them sign up as Boras press agents? Kissing up like this might get Ken D the scoops Heyman still gets. Boras' MO is to grab the money any way he can, so this 10-day window is really a fiction. Ya think the Yankees didn't know that? So that makes them bullies? And Pay-rod really cares what Mo and Jorgie do? Please stop. Read Baumbach and learn something.
I hate Boras, but this was a first round KO; and that matters within the industry. Hank and Cashman came at him hard, the agent and the MVP just punched both in the mouth and took the lunch money. With the Sox celebrating the Series victory the Yanks just ushered in a rebuilding phase, or they can re bid like the rest of baseball. Beatdown, eat it Hankie.
The timing of the announcement by A-Rod and Boras was really classless. Not only did they spite the Yankees, but they spited the Red Sox, one of the few teams with the money to bid for A-Rod. Second, Boras is powerful, but not that powerful, any team owner could see how selfish both Boras and A-Rod were in making the announcement during the World Series, when all the sports reporters were in one place. The Tigers at least waited a day after the World Series to announce they traded for Renteria, (which probably puts on of the few teams that could afford A-Rod's extortion like demands)
A-Rod is not going to get anymore than $20-25 million a year, and he isn't going to get a ten year $300 million contract that Boras thinks he can get him,.
What a terrible take on the situation! Alex and Boras come off terrible in this whole scenario with the timing of the announcement. Totally self-centered ego-maniacs. As for Standing up to the bullies...Alex is the best player in baseball and Boras is the biggest agent in baseball..not exactly David vs. Goliath here. Feel free to clue in.
I also doubt the Boras and Rodriguez were standing up to the Yankees "bullying ways", Randy Levine is basically prostrating himself in front of A-Rod, telling him not to leave. Boras and Rodriguez know the Yankees position, and they know to make a team, they need a stellar and expensive assortment of players. I do think that Boras wants to negotiate with the Yankees still, but on more favorable terms, not with the "$27 million" restriction, if that much money is a restriction.
Even though A-Rod may not like the New York Media Spotlight on him, he is not going to get the attention and most likely the money and the absurd clauses that Boras puts in his clients contracts from many other teams. I really only see the Cubs, the Giants and maybe the White Sox, who do have an okay relationship with Boras, IIRC. I don't see Rodriguez going to LAA Angels, or the Dodgers. I see the LAA making a run for Bonds, than breaking the bank for A-Rod. If A-Rod signed with the Mets, then his argument about the NY media spotlight is disingenuous.
I still think there will be some backdoor negotiations with the Yankees, because there is a power struggle with the organization at this moment, If Levine wins out, there will be negotiations. However the Yankees will only be lukewarm, given that A-Rod just shafted $30 million that the Yankees used to help pay for A-Rod...
I highly doubt that the Marlins will sign A-Rod, they used the luxury tax to pay their players and keep overhead down.
Seattle doesn't want A-Rod back, aka "Pay-Rod" when he left, they already have a 3rd baseman under contract, along with one of the best shortstops in the AL.
I can see the Giants may be interested if Visquel wants to retire.
The biggest detriminent to A-Rod's quest is the huge yearly payout along with a the huge long term contract. Teams aren't run like Agent Management, they are taking the risks and need insurance for such huge contracts, besides, the first A-Rod contract is looked upon as a mistake, given it hasn't been emulated since, nor are the Red Sox are going to bite for any contract over four years...
Great Large Marge reference
This looks stupidly wrong after only 4 days. You need a new crystal ball. Or profession. Or maybe you should pull your nose out of Boras' ass.