Boras asking big money for top prospects

[piccione88]

Vanderbilt thirdbaseman Pedro Alveraz, who is considered a top pick in 2008, is being represented by Scott Boras. According to Kiley Mcdaniel from saberscouting.com, Boras is now asking 9.5 million and a major league deal. The article also states that Boras is asking for a 7 million dollar bonus for Florida high school 1st baseman Eric Hosmer, who is considered, or was a top 10 first pick. It will be interesting to see if how far these guys slip, if these are indeed the money teams will need to sign them.

 

 

http://saberscouting.com/2008/04/07/borasclientprice/

[Never Outhustled]

It seems Boras doesn't have quite the client list he has had in recent years. I've only seen his name with Pedro Alvarez, Josh Fields, Eric Hosmer, and Gerrit Cole. Has he added anyone else?

[Pioneers3]

I don't think he will get that money I bet he is saying this so his clients drop to better "big market" teams that normally have the money for big league contracts and stuff!

[colbyjack]

Boras is asking for big money for his clients? No way http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

I know Boras is made out to be the devil, but seriously if I were a player I would want him on my side as well...to a point (meaning I would give a hometown discount and would gladly negotiate to sign a longer-term deal through arbitration). If guys like Mark Teixeira, Matt Wieters and Stephen Drew can get big money, than Pedro Alvarez is equally deserving. Eric Hosmer is one of the most special bats to come along in the prep ranks, and Gerrit Cole is the top pitcher from HS. In addition to those guys and Fields I have heard a few rumblings that Aaron Crow may be aligned with Boras, as might Danny Espinosa, a SS from Long Beach State. I'm sure a few more guys will be revealed in the next month or two, as the Boras camp is doing a much better job keeping their affiliations with players more quiet given the amount of negative attention they receive.

 

Although I did recommend to them that they needed an in-house PR dep't. to help spin that negativity in their favor.

[piccione88]

Colby, you think there is any way Hosmer would fall to us? I know we dont need another 1st baseman, with Fielder, and Laporta able to make the switch in the future, should Fielder leave. Hosmer is from what I have heard a terrific talent, with a great swing and power potential. If he falls to us is their anyway the Brewers take him, if their is a 7 million dollar tag on him?

[colbyjack]

It's definitely possible that Hosmer falls that far, but no, I don't think the Brewers mess with someone that would require that large of a contract and signing bonus. They've shown in past years to avoid such players, and I don't see them changing their ways in a year that they have four extra, early picks to sign.

[madbad2000]

Here's an interesting idea...why not take a chance on an uber talent like that and play some hard ball. If he doesn't sign, then we get the pick after that one for next year. Kind of a way to either A: sign a top talent that fell...or B: Pay the pick forward to next year...have 5 picks this year and then 3 next instead of 2 (tentatively). I'd rather get the player in the system and developing, but still...risk reward.

[piccione88]

Here's an interesting idea...why not take a chance on an uber talent like that and play some hard ball. If he doesn't sign, then we get the pick after that one for next year. Kind of a way to either A: sign a top talent that fell...or B: Pay the pick forward to next year...have 5 picks this year and then 3 next instead of 2 (tentatively). I'd rather get the player in the system and developing, but still...risk reward.

 

That was what I was thinking, Hosmer from everything I have heard, has tremendous potential. One scout, by the name of David Rawnsley, goes so far as to say he is one of if not the best high school prospect in the last twenty years, and compares him to the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Josh Hamilton, and Delmon Young.

 

http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/2007/columnists/davidrawnsley/weeklycolumn/hosmer_special_hitter.aspx

That is just one scout, but I have heard nothing but great things about this kid. There are other things to consider though. First like colbyjack said, the Brewers have historically not gone this route. Also I am not sure what kind of talent, there will be in next years draft compared to this one. It would really be a bad idea to take a risk like that, and be drafting from a weaker talent pool next year. I do not know that much about this draft class, and next to nothing about the 09 class.

In the end, Boras will get close to what he wants anyway, and if he does agree to less money he will likely be off the board by the time our pick comes around anyway. I would love to see the Brewers just throw down the 7 mil, instead of spending it on middle relief, or something like that. At this point it is just a pipe dream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[colbyjack]

I've brought up the possibility before that the Brewers could try to take a stand by selecting a player that is perceived to be a more difficult sign knowing that they could get a comp pick next year if they're unable to sign that player.

 

However, since Hosmer was brought up, we're talking about a player that like is going to try and get what Mike Moustakas did a year ago ($4 million) vs. what the slot value is for the Brewers first-round pick ($1.5 million). That's a huge difference, and considering that at slot value the Brewers are going to need $5 million or so to sign their first and second-round picks, especially given their track record, I just don't see any scenario in which they pony up another $2-3 million to try and sign a notable player that falls.

 

And trying to play nice with Boras now isn't going to improve their chances of signing Fielder later.

[Never Outhustled]

Brett Mooneyham has been added to the Boras list. Any other updates?

[colbyjack]

I've heard Indiana prep RHP Alex (Bubba) Meyer is also a Boras advisee.

[dadofandrew]

Matt Harrington.

 

I can't believe anyone still hires Boras.

[igor67]

I think your comment deserves some further development Al. Boras' negotiation strategy clearly maximizes his own financial reward because he can spread out the risk of the occaisonal Harrington against the paydays he gets for his other clients. The flipside to that though is that for an individual draftee (particularly a pitcher) fighting for that last few hundred thousand vs. the risk of losing 7 figures is silly. The argument given is that for a number of them that is possibly the only chance they get at big money, so they need to maximize it. They also can't afford to leave it sitting on the table.

[dadofandrew]

I have no doubt Boras maximizes his own money, but he does not have his client's interests at heart. When you ignore your client's wishes (Kenny Rogers), and have another one have to negotiate his own deal because you are so inept (ARod); as I said, the idea someone is still hiring this buffoon is mortifying.

[colbyjack]

There's an interesting interview conducted by Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette with Pirates GM Neal Huntington and team president Frank Coonelly. Kovacevic asks some good questions, with most of the interest surrounding around the Pirates not selecting Matt Wieters a year ago in relationship to whether or not they take Pedro Alvarez this year.

 

]http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08147/884885-63.stm?cmpid=pirates.xml[/b]

 

Here's Coonelly's response to taking a player like Alvarez given his bonus and MLB contract demands:

 

The preference is to sign any amateur player to a minor-league contract. It gives the club more flexibility. With a player signed to a major-league contract right out of the draft, you have to use an option immediately to get him to the minors. If he has a minor-league contract, you can have him for three years in the minors before having to use an option. Does that mean I'm saying the Pirates would never consider that? No. We would if there were a unique set of circumstances.

 

That's one way to say that you don't want to give into a player like Alvarez' bonus demands. I've been saying for quite some time that I don't think the Pirates take Alvarez if he's available (which seems more and more likely with the Rays reportedly zeroing in on Posey and Tim Beckham). The story does go on to state that the Pirates also have Posey and Tim Beckham on their short list, along with two pitchers (probably Matusz and Crow, but I think the Pirates take a bat at #2).