I had a chance to catch up with super agent and MLBTR reader Scott Boras after today's baseball analytics panel at the Sloan Sports Analytics Conference in Boston. A few highlights:
- Asked what led Edwin Jackson to take a one-year deal with the Nationals, Boras said, "In Edwin's case, it was choice. We had multiyear deals, a number of them. We really felt that it was best for him, at his age, to be with a particular team at a particular time and then go into the free agent market next year." I was curious as to whether Boras thought Jackson would improve his market position with a better 2012 performance, and the agent explained, "Our metrics, our analysis, we felt that his evolution as a pitcher is coming. I think he was developing certain pitches as his season went on. We really felt it was best for him to do a one-year contract rather than a three-year deal."
- Speaking of the agency's analytical tools, Boras has internal metrics he does not share with teams in negotiations, he noted during the panel. These analytics instead help determine how the agency values the player as a starting point. Sabermetric guru and Red Sox employee Bill James jumped in to question Boras on what he does when a GM places a significantly higher value on a player than Boras does, "other than celebrate." The agent replied that he will, for the most part, guard against poor fits for his clients, unless the client dictates his destination due to family concerns.
- Johnny Damon is "home, working out, waiting for the right team," Boras told me. I asked if Damon was expected a Major League deal, and Boras said, "Johnny Damon was about the third-best DH in the AL. I'm sure there's a lot of clubs that are looking at youth, and by the time spring training ends they may be looking at it differently."
- Lefty reliever Mike Gonzalez is "in play with a lot of teams right now," according to Boras. He elaborated, "A lot of it has to do with situational needs and clubs. In these markets, sometimes late doesn't mean demand, it just means choice."
“Johnny Damon is “home, working out, waiting for the right team,”Scratch that whopper of the off season Boras.. *right* for **ANY** is more like it.. Damon would play for free if a team would let him, or until he could get those 150 hits at least.
Considering he got a $200M deal for Prince from a team that was thought to have an entrenched first baseman and DH, I’d say he doesn’t relly care about his other offseason woes.
Whopper of the offseason as in tall tale.. You bet he did good for Fielder.
He didn’t have his normal killer winter though. He’ll make a com back..Maybe next season with his clientele. Hard to keep a..Vulture.. Down..
seriously, why Damon is without a job in the MLB???
I’d be interested to hear what it’s like to talk to the man…
“Hi. My name is not Scott Boras. I do not want to take all your money for myself. I think that every player on your team sucks and all my players can be an upgrade to your team in chemistry, leadership, skills, and/or public relations. I’ll be looking forward to taking all your money… I mean talking to you about contracts for my players.”
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Johnny Damon is home, working out, waiting for the right team, Boras told me. I asked if Damon was expected a Major League deal, and Boras said, “Johnny Damon was about the third-best DH in the AL. I’m sure there’s a lot of clubs that are looking at youth, and by the time spring training ends they may be looking at it differently.”
If Damon doesn’t lower his demands he’s the one that may be looking at it differently.
Damon is without a job because he is still looking to secure a guaranteed deal with a club for around $5MM, and the market simply has not developed that way. The way in which teams use the DH is also changing. Teams are much more reluctant to offer aging veterans Major League deals when they are no longer able to play in the field, and are instead using the DH as more of a “revolving door position” in order to rest regular position players throughout the season. This is why Vlad is still available (among others).
Boras would never tell a lie.
Familiar with the saying “ask me no questions and I tell you no lie”. Who in baseball does that better fit than good ‘ol Boras?
Scott really thinks Edwin Jackson’s going to do better in a market where he’ll be competing (potentially) against Cole Hamels, Zack Grenkie, and Matt Cain?
Do you guys think Scott Boras & Drew Rosenhaus are friends?
Boras is very adaptive. Jackson’s old “metrics” were five years at $15-17MM per Boras conduit Jon Heyman. Boras is a genius at maximizing his top stars values. He’s not always great when the moon isn’t available for his second and third tier guys. You wonder if some of them would have been better served by a different agent who would have prioritized them differently.
If you’re 35 or approaching it, having Boros for an agent is a trip to the unemployment line. These guys are 1 mil a year + incentives guys. Without Boros as an agent I’m fairly sure Johnny Damon would have stayed a Yankee and might have saved Posada from the embarrassing 2011 season. I don’t think Jorge could have pushed Johnny out of that spot. A professional and a guy who gets it done, he fit the Yankee mold well (he’s only a 120 runs behind Jeter lifetime-if you don’t think runs is an important stat, look who’s in the Top20). Not staying in New York probably dimmed any hope of getting to the top 20 in runs and probably the last player any of us will ever see reach those heights. Don’t let a few botched fielding plays sully your opinion of JD. Over-estimating the value of an older veteran costs Boros clients more than money. Johnny has made over 110 mil in his life. He should be enjoying himself now and instead he’s left wondering what would have been. Without outrageous demands he could have saved the Yankees their second MASH with Nick Johnson as well. I just can’t understand how Boros makes players on the down side of their career think they can get 4 or 5 year big payday contracts. The Yankees paid him 5 mil more per year than he ever had made and then at 35 years old her looked for a similar 3 years deal. Considering what most of us would sacrifice to just put on a ML uniform, the greed of agents and veteran players who should be enjoying playing is hard to understand.
Scott Boras better give Jack Zduriencik a phone call or E-Mail message stating about Johnny Damon’s availability to help out the Mariners as they can use some help in the outfield and DH.