Massarotti: Red Sox, Boras Will Battle Over Bogaerts
BOSTON (CBS) -- "Look, I always tell every team and every player, we're an open door. Anything they want to look at and offer, and then the player just has to make his judgments."
- Agent Scott Boras earlier this week.
And so it begins, the discussion about Xander Bogaerts' future, what he is now, what he could be, how much he is worth. But with Boras especially, there is a distinct difference between what he says and what he does, and the latter should make you terribly uncomfortable if you are a Red Sox fan.
Let's just get this out there: Boras is an exceptional negotiator, one of the power brokers in professional sports. He also blows more hot air than an industrial sized hair dryer. A couple of years ago, Boras suggested the Red Sox should sign Stephen Drew, move Bogaerts to second base and trade Dustin Pedroia, a rather convenient piece of advice given that he represents both Drew and Bogaerts, but not Pedroia.
Boras, Boras, Boras. Pronounced a little like Bore us. Boras to death.
So do the Red Sox have a chance of signing Bogaerts early? Sure, just as you have a chance to hit the lottery. Boras' history with players is quite clear at this stage – remember Jacoby Ellsbury? – and he doesn't throw around names by accident. In the same interview with WEEI, Boras noted that Bogaerts' statistics at this stage of his career place him slightly above the career path of Derek Jeter, who just happens to be one of the greatest shortstops of all-time.
Here's what else Jeter was: one of the highest-paid players at his position in the history of the game. Save for Alex Rodriguez, who eventually moved to third base, Jeter's 10-year, $189-million contract (2001-2010) remains the biggest contract ever awarded to a player at his position. Jeter did just about everything at an above-average level, from hitting for average and power (at his position) to defense and baserunning. During the 1996 season, when Jeter turned 22, he batted .314 with 10 home runs, 104 runs scored, 78 RBI, 183 hits, an .800 OPS and 14 stolen bases (in 21 attempts). This year, at roughly the same age, Bogaerts is batting .324 with seven homers, 77 runs, 79 RBI, 185 hits, a .783 OPS and 10 steals (in 11 attempts). The comparison isn't perfect - what comparison ever is? – but you get the drift.
Boras doesn't merely think Bogaerts is like Jeter. He thinks Bogaerts is ahead of Jeter. And you can bet your rosin bag that in order for the Red Sox to sign Bogaerts early, they would have to pay him something truly extraordinary, particularly for a player with just two full seasons of major league experience.
Scary, right? Do the math. We're probably talking something along the lines of 10 years, $200 million… or maybe more. With Boras, no number is ever too high. And while the Red Sox don't have to make any real decision on Bogaerts until he hits free agency in the fall of 2019, keeping him beyond age 26 seems a priority for a club that has put an obvious emphasis on building from within.
Here's the point: Boras may be right. If Bogaerts is what the Red Sox believe he can be, he will be their Jeter – or something close. By all accounts, Bogaerts is skilled, hard-working, smart, responsible. From the beginning of this season until the end, he is one thing that has absolutely, positively gone right for the Red Sox. If you have time to kill, take a good look at Bogaerts' splits this year. He has basically hit in every situation imaginable, from April, May and June to at-bats with runners in scoring position, at day or night, against right-handers or left-handers, at home or on the road.
We all know it. The kid can play.
So what are the Red Sox to do here? Certainly, it would behoove the Sox to have exploratory talks with Boras, even if just for their amusement. Waiting a year or even two – to see if Bogaerts really is on the same track as Jeter – will probably be their approach. In the interim, as one caller pointed out this week on 98.5 The Sports Hub, the Sox could hold their breath and hope that Bogaerts eventually dismisses Boras and hires his brother, Jair, who is an aspiring agent.
As we all know, Bogaerts' idol was (is?) Jeter. Bogaerts has every bit the looks and polish – how about that smile? – to be the endorsement titan that Jeter was. But part of what made Jeter who he became was the fact that he played his entire career for the Yankees, that he never even really sought to become anything else, something the Red Sox will indisputably point out whenever they begin talks on a long-term contract.
At that point, Xander Bogaerts may very well be faced with a simple, extremely critical decision.
What is most important to me?
Tony Massarotti co-hosts the Felger and Massarotti Show on 98.5 The Sports Hub weekdays from 2-6 p.m. Follow him on Twitter @TonyMassarotti. You can read more from Tony by clicking here.