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Mets Rumors: Boras, Hart, Alderson

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It's been another frustrating year for Mets fans, but the organization is looking for a new GM and at least one major agent says the team is capable of much better. Here are the details:

  • The Mets have about seven top GM candidates and a longer list of 30 people they'd consider for the job, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
  • The Mets will interview White Sox assistant GM Rick Hahn for their GM vacancy, according to Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago.com.
  • Agent Scott Boras told Dan Martin of the New York Post that the Mets have what it takes to turn the team around. "The issue is transferring the success they enjoy in business and operating revenue issues and getting it to the field," Boras said. "I know they're working hard."
  • Boras said the Mets are a "valid option" for his free agents and added that New York City is "a great place to play."
  • Former Rangers and Indians GM John Hart told Joel Sherman of the New York Post that he has interest in becoming the next Mets GM. Now a senior adviser to the Rangers, Hart does not appear to be a leading candidate for the job, according to Sherman.
  • The Mets "definitely" consider MLB executive Sandy Alderson a GM candidate, according to Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com hears that Alderson would not need MLB's permission to take an offer from the Mets (Twitter links).

Boras Well-Positioned For Offseason

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Back in February, the Scott Boras Corporation was in the midst of a rough patch.  They'd brokered some big deals, sure, but arguably failed clients Johnny Damon, Jarrod Washburn, and Felipe Lopez.  Lopez went so far as to fire Boras that month.  Since then, things have been looking up for the company.  Consider:

  • Kendry Morales switched to Boras in February.  Morales made the switch with one season to go before arbitration, though his campaign was cut short by a May leg fracture.  Still, it's a big addition.
  • Boras added another young star that month in Shin-Soo Choo.  Choo had another strong year and is heading to arbitration for the first time.
  • Tommy Hanson joined the fold in July; he could be arbitration-eligible after the 2011 season depending on what happens with the Super Two concept.  Top prospect Desmond Jennings also hired Boras.
  • Alex Rodriguez jumped ship in September, though he's signed through 2017.
  • Boras recently signed two clients coming off massive walk years: Jayson Werth and Rafael Soriano.  Suddenly Boras has the second-best position player and best reliever this winter.  He also has Adrian Beltre positioned for another big contract at the perfect time.  Carlos Gonzalez broke out; he'll be arbitration-eligible after 2012.
  • It's not all roses for Boras, though.  He doesn't represent any top pitchers from the upcoming free agent class.  And clients Prince Fielder, Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Strasburg, Carlos Pena, Manny Ramirez, Carlos Beltran, Jair Jurrjens all faced adversity this year.  Click here for our full list of Boras clients.

Scott Boras To Represent Rafael Soriano

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Agent Scott Boras has added another one of the offseason's most intriguing free agents to his client list. Rafael Soriano hired Boras to represent him, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.

As Boras recently pointed out to Jon Heyman of SI.com, Soriano is “one of the top closers in the game.” The 30-year-old leads the American League in saves (44) and has a 1.76 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 63 appearances. MLBTR's Luke Adams recently pointed out that Soriano has set himself up for a multi-year deal, possibly even a three-year contract.

Boras, who has negotiated massive free agent deals for the likes of Matt Holliday, Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, recently added Jayson Werth to his list of clients. Soriano, Werth, Adrian Beltre and Carlos Pena highlight Boras' free agents this offseason.

The Rays' chances of re-signing Soriano seem slim, but they could obtain two picks in next year's draft if Soriano turns down arbitration and signs elsewhere. Soriano, a projected Type A free agent, could theoretically accept an arb offer, as he did a year ago, but that probably won't concern the Rays. Soriano seems unlikely to accept arbitration and the Rays could trade him if he does, just as Atlanta did last offseason.

Extension Candidate: Shin-Soo Choo

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When Chris Antonetti officially becomes the Indians GM this offseason, he'll probably consider extending Shin-Soo Choo. It would mean working with agent Scott Boras on a multi-year deal and while that may sound intimidating, there's precedent for this kind of contract. Early in 2009, Prince Fielder, another Boras client, signed a two-year deal that bought out a pair of his arbitration seasons.

Choo will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason and Boras has hinted that he'd be open to a multi-year deal. Boras clients, Fielder included, aren't generally easy to sign long-term, so the Indians may have trouble locking Choo up beyond his three arbitration seasons. Here's a look ahead to a potential three-year deal between the Indians and their right fielder.

Let's start by estimating what Choo would make if the Indians don't extend him. Three other outfielders (none of them super twos) match up reasonably well with Choo if you compare his stats to what they had accomplished heading into their first arbitration seasons. B.J. Upton ($3MM), Josh Willingham ($2.95MM) and Ryan Ludwick ($3.7MM) all signed deals worth $3MM or so for their first arbitration seasons. 

You could make the case, as Boras may, that Choo has accomplished more than any of those three players at comparable stages in their careers. When you compare Choo to the other three players in home runs, RBI, runs, batting average, OBP, slugging percentage and steals, it becomes apparent that the Indians outfielder has a strong case to earn over $3MM next year. Upton beats Choo in steals and runs scored, but loses in every other category; Willingham loses to Choo in every category but home runs and Ludwick loses in every category but home runs and slugging percentage.

Choo's defense is also strong; he has a 7.7 UZR this season and leads all MLB outfielders in assists with 13. He was among the top ten MLB outfielders in assists last year and consistently gets to more balls than most AL right fielders. He doesn't head into arbitration with quite the same platform year that Ludwick did, but Choo will be coming off a second consecutive 20 homer, 20 steal season. A $3.5MM payday in 2011 seems within reach.

If Choo is making $3-4MM next year and is set to receive raises in 2012 and 2013, the Indians would likely have to be prepared to spend considerably to sign Choo for the next three seasons. Antonetti could go year to year, especially if it looks like Choo will have to serve in the South Korean military, but if the Indians do sign their right fielder for the next three years, it probably won't be for less than $20MM.

Nick Markakis, who signed a long-term extension with the Orioles after the 2008 season, then had remarkably similar numbers to the ones Choo has now. Markakis, who also has a strong throwing arm and plays right field, edges Choo in average, runs and homers, but Choo has more RBI and steals and better on base and slugging averages. Markakis' extension could be a model for Cleveland and he will earn $20MM for his three arbitration seasons.

Poll: Jayson Werth’s Next Contract

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You could make the argument that Jayson Werth has been the best everyday player on the best team in the National League this year. He has a .291/.381/.521 line, and leads the league in doubles and pitches seen per plate appearance.

That will play in Werth's favor when he hits free agency later this year, but remember that Werth will be up against Carl Crawford, who is two years younger and has a better defensive reputation. Unlike Crawford and many other members of this year's free agent class, Werth has only been a full-time player for three years. Werth will get a multi-year deal from someone, but the details are harder to predict. 

Agent Scott Boras says Werth is more comparable to Matt Holliday (who signed for $120MM) than Jason Bay (who signed for $66MM), but it's time to see what you think:

Will Jayson Werth sign for more than $100MM?

Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.

Boras: Werth Can Play Center, Is “Different” Than Bay

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It didn’t take long for Scott Boras to start hinting at Jayson Werth’s free agent value. The agent, who recently added Werth to his long list of clients, suggested to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the outfielder will be seeking more than the $66MM Jason Bay obtained as a free agent last winter. Without making demands or mentioning dollar figures, Boras made it clear that he considers Werth more similar to Matt Holliday (a Boras client who signed a $120MM deal) than Bay.

“Werth is a totally different type of player [than Bay],” Boras said. “He’s an athlete who can play center field, run, steal bases, be a Gold Glove type outfielder.”

Werth, who has started 18 games in center this year, has spent most of the season in right, but Boras made it clear that the 31-year-old is an option for teams looking to add a center fielder.

“He has the closing speed to play center,” Boras said. “It makes your team so different. Normally you get that production out of a corner outfielder.”

Though most around baseball assume that Werth, a projected Type A free agent, will leave the Phillies, Boras says his client may end up re-signing in Philadelphia.

Jayson Werth Now Represented By Scott Boras

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Soon-to-be free agent outfielder Jayson Werth is now represented by Scott Boras, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (via Twitter). Werth split with the Beverly Hills Sports Council earlier this month and was said to be looking for an agent that charged less than the usual 5% commission. 

Along with Carl Crawford, the 31-year-old Werth figures to be the most highly sought-after free agent outfielder this winter. His 3-for-5 day today included a walk-off homer, pushing his season line to .292/.381/.521 with 24 homers and a career best .902 OPS. 

Speculation earlier this season had Werth getting something similar to the four-year, $66MM contract that Jason Bay received last winter, but never underestimate Scott Boras. Both players hit the market at age 31 and put up very similar triple-slash lines in their walk years (Bay had a .921 OPS in 2009), but Werth is superior defensively and has World Series experience to his credit. 

Click here to see our full list of Boras clients.

A-Rod Leaves Boras

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Alex Rodriguez sent a letter to Scott Boras 45 days ago to inform the agent that he no longer requires his representation, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Bob Nightengale of USA Today first reported the news and Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports soon confirmed the report. Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp advise Rodriguez, according to USA Today. But as Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out on Twitter, they are not his baseball agents.

Boras negotiated Rodriguez's ten-year $252MM deal and his ten-year $275MM deal, the two biggest contracts in baseball history. Rodriguez's current contract expires when he's 42, so he won't need to negotiate another deal for a while. Here is MLBTR's list of Scott Boras clients.

Desmond Jennings Switches To Scott Boras

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Desmond Jennings has switched representation from SFX to Scott Boras, MLBTR has learned.  Jennings, one of the top prospects in the minors, has a .283/.356/.409 line for the Rays' Triple A club this year.  His scorching June has been sandwiched by unimpressive months.

Perhaps the switch to Boras kills any chance of Jennings signing a team-friendly multiyear deal, but it's not worth worrying about before he even makes his big league debut.

Tommy Hanson Switches To Scott Boras

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Braves righty Tommy Hanson hired Scott Boras as his agent this month, tweets David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Hanson had previously been with Beverly Hills Sports Council, an agency that was fractured when Dan Lozano left and took several big-name clients with him.  O'Brien notes that Boras now represents three members of the Braves' rotation, with Jair Jurrjens and Derek Lowe already in tow.  Click here to see our full list of Boras clients.

For those worried that Hanson is now less likely to sign a multiyear deal, keep in mind that that isn't really the Braves' cup of tea anyway.  Hanson will have one year and 120 days of service time after this season, so he won't be arbitration-eligible yet.  There is a possibility Hanson is arbitration-eligible after the 2011 season, if the Super Two rule remains unchanged by the new collective bargaining agreement and the cutoff keeps decreasing.  It's much too early to worry about any of that; Braves fans can rest easy knowing the team controls Hanson through 2015.

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