Boras burning the Damon bridge
by Ed Valentine on Jan 24, 2010 11:00 AM EST
in News
40 comments
If Johnny Damon ends up being something other than a New York Yankee in 2010, place the blame squarely on Scott Boras. The uber-agent appears to be doing his best to burn the rickety bridge of hope that might still exist between the Yankees and the free-agent outfielder no one seems to want.
As recently as a couple of days ago, there was renewed dialogue between Damon, Boras and the Yankees in which the Yankees made one last attempt to have a good Yankee remain a Yankee.
"Tell us your bottom line for what you're willing to play for," they said, "and if it's in the realm of where our budget needs to be we can go to ownership (Hal Steinbrenner) and see if something can be worked out." But instead of giving them a number, Boras came back with more of his patented "mystery team" hogwash, claiming he had a couple of other offers they were still considering.
Jon Heyman of SI reported the other day that the Yankees had set a 'Damon Deadline.' The Yankees quickly denied that.
I am inclined to believe the Yankees on this one. Heyman has a reputation as being a Boras mouthpiece -- so gut instinct tells me the 'Damon Deadline' is a line of bull Boras fed to Heyman. And that Heyman eagerly swallowed to get a 'scoop.'
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I truly feel that Boros.....
would be much more suited to be in another “occupation”…..That being a member of congress. That seems to be his tendency…..He is “Crook” enough to fill those shoes.
Rick
Goooooooooooo MSU BOBCATs
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Almost 60 years as a YANKEE Fan
What?
His job is to give his client’s the most money. He’s the best agent out there in doing that. His job isn’t to give each MLB team his clients for free…
Leave me, leave me, I can't effin stand you.
+1
While it seems that this is one case where Boras may have overplayed his hand, on the whole he gets his clients top dollar. Period.
If there was a 2 year 14 million dollar offer on the table from
the Yankees then Boras misread the market. Damon is going to end up signing a 1 year contract for less money.
Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.
by Edwantsacracker on Jan 24, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
If I recall correctly, the Yankees
offered 2 yrs./$14MM when Boras was looking for 3+ years at $13MM per year.
Yeah but...
He also ends up costing his clients money in a lot of cases because he holds out for the big dollar too long…as will be the case with Damon. I understand that it is an agent’s job to get the most money for his client but he also has to be able “read” the market properly.
Boras has been an excellent agent
all things considered, but in this case, he has to know when to wave the white flag.
That, or Damon needs to know when to tell Boras to take a hike, and negotiate his own return to the Yankees, if he has such a desire to return to the Yankees.
by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 12:03 PM EST reply actions
Didn't A-Rod do that to Boras
When he was a free-agent a couple of years ago and renegotiated a return to the Yankees after opting out of his contract. I can’t remember the full details.
by IDCWhoYouLike on Jan 24, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
Yup
But you can’t put the whole blame on Boras, A-Rod wanted to opt out of the contract. It was the timing of the thing (Boras leaked it to a news source in the middle of the WS) that made them split ways.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
Yes
A-Rod renegotiated himself under the assistance of two Goldman Sachs managing directors, one being a YES network board member. However, Scott Boras is still the agent on record for that contract and collects his commission fees.
by Scooby Snacks on Jan 24, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
Damon's gonna have to
throw Boras under the bus, which is probably something Boras is advising him is an option.
I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque
by LateInningRelief on Jan 24, 2010 1:03 PM EST reply actions
I just have a tendency.....
to not trust these guys…..I guess they may be necessary, but (and I guess they are just human) they tend to be out for themselves…..
Rick
Goooooooooooo MSU BOBCATs
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Almost 60 years as a YANKEE Fan
This is Just
Boras, doing his job. He is there to get the most money for his clients. I think every agent uses the same tactic to say other teams are interested. Nothing new. But if there were other teams interested, where is the news for it? The Giants supposedly had interest, not any longer, what about the Braves? not any longer, The A’s? If Johnny goes there than, best to him, but it will not happen. The Major teams are not making a play for Damon, thus hurting his value and Boras’ bargaining chip.
I believe Damon and Boras are just waiting for that other team to make an offer so it can presented to the Yankees and give them the opportunity to match it. I also believe that Damon does not want to be anywhere but NY and is willing to hold out as long as possible, because I am sure he believes the Yankees will come around.
I am not worried about Boras, this is what he does. Only time will tell.
Damon
If Damon really wants to come back to NY like he’s been saying he does, then he has to tell the Yankees that and negotioate a contract around what the Yankees are willing to spend. He needs to tell BorASS to GTFO.
No Damon
Do you want to pay a guy millions just to hit. Obviously he can’t field to save his A— and has a terrible arm. I say see what happens with the X MAN players are a crap shoot anyway.
In another development in this national saga
Davidoff via MLBTR:
The Yankees would love to have Johnny Damon back. The catch there is that they’d love to have him back for $2MM, which Davidoff doesn’t see happening.
Fat chance.
What was the 1st offer that got pulled
wasnt Damon offered 2 for 14-16 Also who is adam Laroches agent. he was offered 2 for 14 from SF and settled for like 5 for 1 @ Arz
Pretty sure the Yanks were willing to go something like 2/16
or something like that, but Damon and Boras initially said they wouldn’t settle for anything less than 13 mil per, and that’s when the Yankees signed Johnson.
by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 2:43 PM EST up reply actions
No.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/10/scott-boras-cli.html
Updated as of Jan. 21.
by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 24, 2010 2:56 PM EST up reply actions
Tell Boras to take a HIKE !!!!!
If Damon wants back he needs to man up and tell Boars to get lost !
Like A-ROD did, although I think that played out like a good cop – bad cop script which is why Boras is still the agent of record, Damon’s script is beginning to have the appearance of playing out that way too. The yanks will play along as long as they get to pay the number they are comfortable with.
Unfortunately Damon doesn’t have the age or the stats that A-ROD had after he begged to get back on the yanks. My feeling is Damon will be left out because he isn’t doing anything publicly (like firing Boras and meeting with Yankee Brass) to get back on the Yanks, ASAP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And lets face it, the yanks like nothing better than making Boras look like s horses A$$ publicly.
Boras is an agent
he’s supposed to get a client the most possible money. He’s probably the best, and most powerful agent in baseball. He’s great at what he does. But what he needs to realize is that with Damon, he screwed up.
No other team is going after Damon at this point. The Tigers are out of it. The Giants are out of it. The Braves appear to be out of it. His only real fit is the Yankees. And the Yankees, with a big hole in left field, need Damon as well. Boras needs to realize this. The Yankees are the ONLY good fit for Johnny Damon. If he can realize that, then he’ll get something done with the Yanks. But Boras overplayed his hand, and he’s not getting his client a whole lot of money. Stop playing around and just sign with the Yanks Johnny. They want you back, and you want to come back. Get it done. And if Boras will continue to screw this up, then do what A-Rod did and tell him to take a hike.
I guarantee that wherever Damon signs, he would have gotten equal or more of that money with the Yankees. And I’m pretty sure he wants to play in NY. At this point, the best fit for him, moneywise, and playingwise, is with the New York Yankees. SO GET IT DONE!!!!!!!
Agree 100% Make It Happen Cash & Hal
Damon was an important part of #27 and deserves a $5-$6MM base plus incentives contract for one year with a similar mutual option for a second year.
by YANKEES FOREVER on Jan 25, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
keep in mind
that Damon was already compensated for his contributions in the 09 playoffs. That’s what the bonuses are all about.
I wonder if he really “deserves” anything after the way this whole negotiation has been handled. He should have taken the offer of 2 years at 14 per (if i recall correctly) and gotten it over with. Now he’s looking at only making $2M to $6M with incentives for 1 year.
Time for Damon to get off his high horse and come back with his tail between his legs. I’d still be concerned about his production/work ethic next season if he harbors any resentment over these negotiations. He might be a professional, and all these ballplayers are, but they’re still human and can still behave unprofessionally from time to time.
This is what happens when business is done for today only.
Agents and team GMs and their staffs do business with each other each and every year. Boras is very good at maximizing his return from one deal… but in the process he creates badwill. Now it’s coming back to bite him. Those he deals with are learning his tricks and don’t trust anything he says. Happens in poker too, incidentally. These guys live or die on reputation and at this point, Boras has a poor one.
Cashman has played this well… make an offer, don’t budge on it, and don’t leave it on the table forever. Meanwhile he’s covered himself with the assumption Damon won’t be back, so he doesn’t have to be dealing out of desperation. He’s got all the leverage.
Boras has gone down a path and he doesn’t know how to extract himself from the present situation while saving face. Frankly I’m not sure he can.
If I were a player looking for an agent, I see Boras as a guy who might get me more money, but also runs a chance of shafting me out of a good contract with his BS posturing. So it would be like gambling. Speaking personally, I’d rather have an agent who gets me a little less money but is more reliable in getting it.
Usually
Boras is VERY reliable in getting his clients the most money possible. He very rarely screws up as badly as he’s screwed this one up.
You may not like him, but Boras is probably the most powerful agent in baseball. And, if I’m playing, Boras is my agent. I guarantee you that.
Boras is definitely the most powerful agent.
But most powerful doesn’t mean best.
And he has screwed up more than just this once. Let’s not forget that he screwed over A-Rod, who had to go around Boras to get his renegotiation done with the Yankees. I’m pretty sure there are other examples, too, but since I don’t have those facts 100% straight I won’t speculate here. Maybe others could fill us in on other Boras deals that ended up less than ideal for the player.
And none of this alters my whole point, which is that goodwill/badwill CAN and WILL help or hurt an agent over time… every transaction doesn’t happen in a vacuum, if the teams hate you and distrust everything you say, the going will be a lot harder than if you’ve established a professional relationship with them. Professional relationship doesn’t mean bending over, either… it is entirely possible to enjoy a good rapport with your negotiating counterparts and still do right by your client. Happens every day in other industries. This is where Boras flat-out stinks. (Not a statement of my like/dislike, but rather my opinion of his weakness in this area.)
Yes, I would go with a different agent. There are other good ones out there. As a couple examples, I don’t think Andy Pettitte has been hurting for salary over the years, and Mo certainly hasn’t either. Not Boras clients.
Its called negotiating
Cashman has more than $2 million to spend but is low balling Boras who over played his hand early on and is scrambling to get the most for Damon with the least amount of embarrassment he can end up with.
My guess is that Damon signs with someone, maybe the Yankees, for $6 million, maybe some incentives and a mutual option for next year.
Don’t forget that a couple of years ago Damon almost quit on the Yankees in spring training and had a horrible season. He was great last year but I wouldn’t blame Cashman if there was a question of how long Damon’s heart will be in the game. If that’s so, why would you even consider a two year deal?
I like Damon's skills
and liked his focus this past season, but in the back of my mind is that he only did it to have leverage for this next contract. Call me old fashioned, but I want players who WANT to be Yankees and WANT to play as a team and WANT to win. Period. If they have real talent and win with the Yankees, the money will come, no question about it.
I don’t want money grubbers… that’s one thing that got the Yankees into trouble during most of the 2000’s, as some of the big name carpetbaggers came to New York looking for easy World Series rings. The late 1990s dynasty was the exact opposite of that. Those guys played hard, played as a team, and achieved more as a group because of it.
As for this particular deal, if I were Cashman I’d be a real hardass with Boras. The guy shafts teams all the time… in this case I wouldn’t give one inch to him, especially not in light of the “don’t talk to me unless it’s at least 2@18” (or whatever those numbers were) and the “2@14 no! we’ll go with the mystery team” garbage. Okay Boras, you do that! Go with the mystery team. Buh-bye.
Boras is an ass
This saga is starting to bore me, if Johnny really wanted to come back, he would have come back on our terms by now, he’s already pretty damn rich, he’s not a young guy who needs to prove himself, and he obviously isn’t getting his original wishes.
If he is unhappy when he signs, it may affect his play, which would be bad.
"We're only going to score 17 points?"
Damon
At some point in the negotiation process, Damon has got to step up and tell Boras his intentions. Does he just want the most amount of money, and potentially play for a team that has no realistic chance of playing in October, or does he want to seriously chase another ring? I suspect Damon is going for the money …
"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will
If he's after the most money then he already screwed up.
Yankees would have given him 2@14 and he and Boras turned it down. That just smacks of greed, I’m sorry. Spin it any way you want but at the end of the day he had a good offer, turned it down, and ain’t never gonna see that deal again. Oops.
Boras Boras Boras
I read through the threads and see two common themes from most of us.
1. Boras is an ass !
2. Boras is a great agent !
The bottom line is Boras can only command as much money as the free agent will command. Last year with Tex he was the best defensive player/hitter on the market. He commanded the kind of money he got. Year before A-ROD, which Boras screwed up. What would make Boras a great agent is if he could get a guy like Damon 2 years/ 20 mil. Ain’t going to happen. Reason ? Because if the Yankee’s aren’t willing to give the big bucks, no one else will either for a player Damon’s age and his decreased skills. Too many money ball teams and not enough teams like the Yankee’s that are willing to invest in their team and compensate their players, almost to a fault.
Interesting point.
Seems like the Yankees in recent years have moved into a role where in many cases, they establish the market. Other teams probably look at what they’re willing to offer, or not, as a data point in setting their own price points.
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