The Next Boras Crop

With Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez, the Scott Boras Corporation represented a good chunk of top-end free agents in the 2008-09 offseason.  Let’s take a look at the top Boras free agents for the winter of 2009-10.

Boras does not have much in the way of catchers, first basemen, second basemen, or shortstops for the next free agent class (another go-round with Jason Varitek and Felipe Lopez, perhaps).  He does, however, have the best available third baseman in Adrian Beltre, assuming Chipper Jones does not reach the open market.  Beltre will be 31 in 2010, and he has a leg up on Troy Glaus and Melvin Mora.  As one commenter pointed out, Boras will also have Joe Crede on the market again.

Boras has a strong group of outfielders heading toward free agency: Matt Holliday, Johnny Damon, Rick Ankiel, and Xavier Nady.  Ankiel could conceivably be the best available center fielder, while only Jason Bay can give Holliday a run for his money in left.  I’ll assume Manny Ramirez won’t sign a one-year deal.

The starting pitchers of the 2009-10 offseason aren’t terribly impressive, with Erik Bedard, Justin Duchscherer, Rich Harden, John Lackey, and Brett Myers projected to head the class.  Boras can only contribute Jarrod Washburn and Kevin Millwood (if he tosses fewer than 180 innings this year).  Boras is also weak in the pen next winter, with guys like Eric Gagne and Scott Schoeneweis.

Looks like Boras will be focused on Beltre and his outfielders once the 2009 season ends.