What was that experience like? Was it a fun event? I could see that going either way.I know the 2021 MLB Draft was held during the All Star break since I was in the audience in Denver and watched Mayer fall to the Sox.
What was that experience like? Was it a fun event? I could see that going either way.I know the 2021 MLB Draft was held during the All Star break since I was in the audience in Denver and watched Mayer fall to the Sox.
It's plausible that someone offered 5 years back in November, Boras said no, that team moved on and spend their $$ elsewhere, and that deal is no longer on the table. But I'd be shocked if he was sitting on a 4 year offer now, much less 5.My guess, and it's a complete guess, is that not one team has offered Montgomery a guaranteed 5th year. It's laughable to think, if it's true, that Boras was seeking 7 years at the start of free agency. As for Snell, the QO must be scaring teams off if they are looking for an early opt out. That and he tends to be fragile and did issue 100 walks last year.
Yeah, I thought that I remembered Mayer being drafted during the ASB.I know the 2021 MLB Draft was held during the All Star break since I was in the audience in Denver and watched Mayer fall to the Sox.
I think for Montgomery, this may be a consideration for sure.So - to sum up some other conversations here, if Montgomery wants a pillow contract, he's going to wait until after OD to sign so he can't get a QO, right?
I hear you, but I wonder if there is maybe some selection bias here? Like, they pick Boras for the same reason Will picked the wrench…because fuck the owners.These guys must be going out of their minds. I know -- cry me a river when you're about to make 8 figures playing a game but it still must be kind of hard. Cry me a river for Boras too, but the amount of handholding and baby sitting he probably is having to do with these guys and their families to get through this is likely nuts.
Well sure, if the demands drop far enough, it makes sense that other teams will get (back?) in the game. Of course, it's also Boras-spin 101 to invoke mystery teams. It will be interesting to find out if the contract they each ultimately sign is one that's already out there (and they aren't ready to accept it's the best they can get) or if these mystery teams actually help them squeeze out an extra year or a few extra million dollars.Four mystery teams! Now that's inflation.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/blake-snell-jordan-montgomery-rumors-four-new-teams.html?utm_source=twitter
It feels like he's being up front about his core strategy of waiting until other starters get hurt in Spring Training to boost the market.Four mystery teams! Now that's inflation.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/blake-snell-jordan-montgomery-rumors-four-new-teams.html?utm_source=twitter
This strategy might work for a fringy guy willing to take really low dollars. I can't see that being productive for a guy looking for a top tier salary ($20M+ per year) like Montgomery and Snell are. How many teams are going to have a guy go down with a season-threatening/ending injury in camp and have their first instinct be replacing him with a $20M+ player? Relying on pure serendipity doesn't strike me as a sound strategy.It feels like he's being up front about his core strategy of waiting until other starters get hurt in Spring Training to boost the market.
Agree. He's grasping at straws.This strategy might work for a fringy guy willing to take really low dollars. I can't see that being productive for a guy looking for a top tier salary ($20M+ per year) like Montgomery and Snell are. How many teams are going to have a guy go down with a season-threatening/ending injury in camp and have their first instinct be replacing him with a $20M+ player? Relying on pure serendipity doesn't strike me as a sound strategy.
Won't be long until there are 30 Mystery teamsFour mystery teams! Now that's inflation.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/blake-snell-jordan-montgomery-rumors-four-new-teams.html?utm_source=twitter
I don't know that it's serendipity, as it happens in some form pretty much every year. Its certainly cynical.This strategy might work for a fringy guy willing to take really low dollars. I can't see that being productive for a guy looking for a top tier salary ($20M+ per year) like Montgomery and Snell are. How many teams are going to have a guy go down with a season-threatening/ending injury in camp and have their first instinct be replacing him with a $20M+ player? Relying on pure serendipity doesn't strike me as a sound strategy.
Yeah… when your $25M per year starter goes down in early ST, most teams try to find their own Fitts or Winckowskis to hopefully hold down the fort for a month or so.Sonny Gray was pulled with a hammy today. But doubt the Cards would pay Montgomery.
They may be displeased with Boras, but if the reports are true that both Snell and Monty are really trying to get or stay within certain geographic regions, I think they understand the additional constraints they are placing on their agent.I can't believe these two are still unsigned on March 8th, with the season starting for most teams in 20 days. They can't be too happy about this uncertainty at this late stage. I wonder if they are displeased with Boras, who seems to have badly misjudged the market this year with most of his players.
They're still going to be stupid rich even if they end up signing a one year deal and both injure themselves and can't finish the season. Nobody will ever feel bad for these guys. They missed out on timing to be stupid Carlos Rodon wealthThey may be displeased with Boras, but if the reports are true that both Snell and Monty are really trying to get or stay within certain geographic regions, I think they understand the additional constraints they are placing on their agent.
I don't feel bad for them at all. It looks like they might be prioritizing geography and comfort over money, which I think is great for them if that is what they want. They can afford it. I'm certain Boras knows their priorities and is updating them with current offers/options every step of the way and keeping them fully involved in the process.They're still going to be stupid rich even if they end up signing a one year deal and both injure themselves and can't finish the season. Nobody will ever feel bad for these guys. They missed out on timing to be stupid Carlos Rodon wealth
I have a suspicion that is why he hasn't signed. He's looking for an opt out after one year, and wants to avoid the QO tag. It would not surprise me if he didn't sign until after opening day.I don't feel bad for them at all. It looks like they might be prioritizing geography and comfort over money, which I think is great for them if that is what they want. They can afford it. I'm certain Boras knows their priorities and is updating them with current offers/options every step of the way and keeping them fully involved in the process.
Guys don't usually get too many chances at free agency. I don't blame them at all for taking as long as they need to try and get what they want. For Monty in particular, if geography is that important and it doesn't work out this time, I think he'll get an opt out after one season included in his deal and have the option of trying again next year. Unless the money is at the upper range of early expectations, I don't think he'll lock in at multiple years in a city he doesn't want to be in.
This just doesn’t compute to me. If I “prioritize geography and comfort over money”, why would I take on Scott Boras as an agent? Everybody knows Boras goes for maximizing the biggest contract (I’m not passing judgement on that, just outlining his MO). The only way that doesn’t happen is when the player steps in and orders him to take the deal with their preferred spot.I don't feel bad for them at all. It looks like they might be prioritizing geography and comfort over money, which I think is great for them if that is what they want. They can afford it. I'm certain Boras knows their priorities and is updating them with current offers/options every step of the way and keeping them fully involved in the process.
Guys don't usually get too many chances at free agency. I don't blame them at all for taking as long as they need to try and get what they want. For Monty in particular, if geography is that important and it doesn't work out this time, I think he'll get an opt out after one season included in his deal and have the option of trying again next year. Unless the money is at the upper range of early expectations, I don't think he'll lock in at multiple years in a city he doesn't want to be in.
This is very well said. The only thing I would add is that Boras totally misread the market this year.This just doesn’t compute to me. If I “prioritize geography and comfort over money”, why would I take on Scott Boras as an agent? Everybody knows Boras goes for maximizing the biggest contract (I’m not passing judgement on that, just outlining his MO). The only way that doesn’t happen is when the player steps in and orders him to take the deal with their preferred spot.
Boras’s MO is fairly well-known by now – and it has served him well. Wait for the market to come to him (unless he gets a silly deal early on), and/or circumvent the GM to go to the owner, so the team bids against itself. The problem is most teams have budgets; the longer you wait, the more probable it becomes that your preferred geography/comfort team (if you do have one) will be all set by the time you get to Spring Training. If I prioritize geography and comfort, I’m not sure my priorities are quite aligned with Boras's approach.
It seems to me the explanation is relatively straightforward. Boras and Montgomery/Snell are going for max money. They are looking for a number, and nobody is giving them that number, including their preferred landing spots. Their options now are (1)Take the next best max money deal, regardless of where it is or (2)Take even less money to go their preferred spot.
I can understand where none of those options may be appealing – and I doubt that is the outcome they had in mind going into free agency.
I think Boras' MO is to get his clients what they want. In Montgomery's case I think the first priority is to get a massive contract and play wherever. I don't think an offer like that came in or he would have signed already. Monty knows he can't be picky on location when so few teams can actually make such a big offer. After that, I think his second priority is based on location, preferably Texas, but not just there. When I say "prioritizing geography and comfort over money", I think that absent a huge deal, he'll leave some money on the table to go where he wants. Probably a few million here or there, which is still significant.This just doesn’t compute to me. If I “prioritize geography and comfort over money”, why would I take on Scott Boras as an agent? Everybody knows Boras goes for maximizing the biggest contract (I’m not passing judgement on that, just outlining his MO). The only way that doesn’t happen is when the player steps in and orders him to take the deal with their preferred spot.
OK, that's a fair assessment, thanks.I think Boras' MO is to get his clients what they want. In Montgomery's case I think the first priority is to get a massive contract and play wherever. I don't think an offer like that came in or he would have signed already. Monty knows he can't be picky on location when so few teams can actually make such a big offer. After that, I think his second priority is based on location, preferably Texas, but not just there. When I say "prioritizing geography and comfort over money", I think that absent a huge deal, he'll leave some money on the table to go where he wants. Probably a few million here or there, which is still significant.
Since the big offer didn't come in, I think that is the priority currently in play.
If getting to a location where he wants to play isn't possible, I think priority three will be to get an early opt out so he has a chance to move on if he isn't comfortable or can do better.
That's a fair question. Even removing the QO from the equation, I wonder what Montgomery's market next winter is going to be should he get a pillow deal or an opt-out. Considering the big deal he was after this winter hasn't materialized, he'll be a year older, and the marketplace, at least for now, appears to be a bit deeper with top-of-the-rotation options (Burnes, Fried, Bieber, possible Cole), what kind of performance is he going to have to put up to get his price close to what he was hoping to get this winter? Might he be looking at something more in line with what Gray got (3/75)? Does a QO put him more in ERod (4/80) or Seth Lugo territory (3/45)? All of that is a far cry from the Nola-type deal he was reportedly seeking.How much impact would the QO have on depressing total contract value? If Montgomery signs after opening day he likely won't be ready for a while after that and will take even longer to get into peak form. I can't help but wonder if the value he'd lose in having his pillow contract be less valuable to the signing team plus added risk of reduced performance due to missing Spring Training is worth more than whatever he'd gain from not having a QO tacked on. I don't have a strong take on this, just a question that is sticking in my mind.
Can we please stop alluding to Boras as some sort of evil incarnation? If your son had an arm bestowed by God Almighty, and you had invested lots of time and money on him, and you knew that he was only an injury away fron losing it all, and knew that team owners are billionaires, wouldn't you want Boras representing your kid? I would.Oh i don't feel one bit sorry for either of them. When you hire Scott Boras as your agent, you're kind of making a deal with the devil, IMO. I actually enjoy seeing him be wrong about the market this year.
You’d have to think if anyone was giving him 7 years it would have happened months ago.Heyman (so Boras) is saying Monty wants 7 years.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/latest-on-jordan-montgomery-red-sox.html
But surely a team that has an injury befall one of their starters in spring training will give him seven years out of desperation to fill their rotation. /sYou’d have to think if anyone was giving him 7 years it would have happened months ago.
Good luck to him.Heyman (so Boras) is saying Monty wants 7 years.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/latest-on-jordan-montgomery-red-sox.html
It's now March 8. They're playing a serious game of chicken here. It's getting kinda late.Heyman (so Boras) is saying Monty wants 7 years.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/latest-on-jordan-montgomery-red-sox.html
My gut tells me that this is an attempt to bump the max 3-4 year deals that some teams might be entertaining to at least 5 years.Heyman (so Boras) is saying Monty wants 7 years.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/latest-on-jordan-montgomery-red-sox.html
Not that big of a deal at this pointIt’s beyond late: at this point even if they sign they’re likely not going to be ready for the start of the season, Boras’s idea that he can run a spring training notwithstanding. I don’t think anything he can do is going to accurately simulate facing live hitters and line ups.
You’re probably right. Boras doesn’t care if he looks stupid asking for 7 if it means he gets 5.My gut tells me that this is an attempt to bump the max 3-4 year deals that some teams might be entertaining to at least 5 years.
I don't either.You’re probably right. Boras doesn’t care if he looks stupid asking for 7 if it means he gets 5.
I don’t think he even gets 5, but that’s another story.
I’d take it one step further and say whatever his offers are none of them are going to get better and he just needs to pick one. I don’t know what team wakes up on March 9 and decides it’s time to offer a free agent more money.You’re probably right. Boras doesn’t care if he looks stupid asking for 7 if it means he gets 5.
I don’t think he even gets 5, but that’s another story.
The actual Heyman quote felt more like recap than new news to me; 7 years is the same "bigger than Nola" ask we've known about for months now. It was a non-bulleted item in a general Sox offseason recap for the NY Post.Heyman (so Boras) is saying Monty wants 7 years.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/latest-on-jordan-montgomery-red-sox.html
Red Sox decisionmakers did hold a Zoom call with Montgomery three weeks ago, and they’re said to still be in contact and having conversations. But they seem disinclined to the seven-year deal Montgomery seeks, and some still believe a short-term innings-eater (Michael Lorenzen or Mike Clevinger?) may be more likely.
there are plenty of other agents out there who seem to secure perfectly reasonable, yet life changing contracts for their clients who aren’t named Boras… (see Ohtani and Yamamoto just this year)..they just choose not to showboat, “set the market”, hold out deep into ST, and try to sell guys who have obvious flaws as elite. (See 2 great years, 4 underwhelming/injury plagued Snell, #3 at best SP looking for near ace level $$ Montgomery, on the decline w/ bat Chapman, and one year bounce back after getting designated Bellinger as perfect examples). Next question.Can we please stop alluding to Boras as some sort of evil incarnation? If your son had an arm bestowed by God Almighty, and you had invested lots of time and money on him, and you knew that he was only an injury away fron losing it all, and knew that team owners are billionaires, wouldn't you want Boras representing your kid? I would.