Boras Blog

Bagels and Boras

When I was growing up in New York, the fledgling WFAN used to run a Sunday morning show covering baseball, but focusing on the Mets.  The show was called "Bagels and Baseball".  That always stuck with me - is there really any better way to think of Sunday morning?  And even though now my Sunday mornings are more like Bagels and Diapers, or even Errands and Diapers, I figure I have about eight to ten years until it can be Bagels and Baseball for me and my son together.

Ok, Sunday's Quick Thoughts:

• Josh Fields has signed with the Mariners (hat-tip to Reader Jumbo).  Details of the contract have not been released, but Ill post more about it when I get confirmation of the contract.
• Midwest Sports Fans does a great job breaking down the market for Joe Crede.
• La Velle Neal III does a great job breaking down the value of Joe Crede.  
• Ken Davidoff talks about how A-Rod turns to Boras in times of trouble.  To me this plays out like an episode of Arliss.
• For those in the know, Andy Oliver has won his lawsuit against the NCAA. For those who have no idea what I am talking about, I am working on a longer post about this - should be up tomorrow.  This could have huge implications for the way draft negotiations work going forward. 

Sunday's Quick Thoughts

• I cant understand why everyone can classify the late nineties and early aughts (Is that right?  "oh-oh"s?  "two-thousands"?) as the Steroid Era and there can be so much chatter the EVERYONE was on steroids, yet whenever news comes out that ANYONE was on steroids we are supposed to be outraged.
• Took a long time, but it looks like the market is heating up for Joe Crede.  Reports are out there that both the Giants as  well as the Twins have either made, or will be making offers.
• Seattle Pi reports that  Boras is pitching Garrett Anderson to the Mariners, which seems like a good match.  If it doesnt happen, Anderson might be looking at a graceless Mike Piazza-like retirement.
• The Seattle Post Intelligencer report also checks in on Josh Fields and reports no progress.  Amazing considering that the two sides are apart by less than an Elmer Dessens contract.
• The Giants appear to be getting more serious about Manny Ramirez.  Of course nothing is certain until there is a signature above the dotted line.

Keeping the Status Quo

The Mariners and Josh Fields are still $500k apart.  SeattlePi talked with Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik about what is going on:

''We've had a few discussions now,'' Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. ''We're keeping the status quo.''

Is that good or bad?

''I don't really know,'' Zduriencik said. ''I like Scott Boras. I realize he's a professional, and my discussions with him have always been pleasant going back 15 years now.''

But so far, that hasn't produced common ground or a contract. The Mariners would like to see Fields, who was deemed to be close to being major league ready a year ago, pitching in their system this season.

Ideally, they'd like to see him at spring training when camp opens Feb. 13, but there's no evidence that's a strong possibility.

If he doesn't sign with Seattle, he could pitch in one of the independent leagues and then go back into the draft in June. Were that to happen, the Mariners would get an extra pick in the first round, the choice coming immediately after the 20th pick.

This is playing out like a bad suspense film.  We all know the ending and it involves Boras and Fields toasting champagne before the credits roll.  It just doesnt make sense for the Mariners to lose him over $500k, and at the end of the day, Zduriencik will pony up.  But you've got to admire the fact that he has a little fight in him. 

More on Josh Fields

The Mariners continue to negotiate with Scott Boras to sign 2008 first round draft pick Josh Fields.  Here is the downside:

If doesn't sign, the Mariners are going to have a fistful of the top draft picks come next June. They already have their own pick, No. 2 overall, and Philadelphia's first-round pick, 28th overall, plus a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds, also courtesy of the Phillies. Add to that the No. 2 pick in the second round, and the Mariners have four of the approximately top 40 draftees in 2009.

If Fields isn't signed, the Mariners also get to reuse their 20th pick, which is awarded after the regular 20th choice, which this year belongs to the Blue Jays. That pick could be the 21st or 22nd overall, depending on whether the Washington Nationals sign their pick from the ninth round of the 2008 draft, University of Missouri right-hander Aaron Crow.

"To have five of the first 40 or so picks is a good situation," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "It's the best way to stockpile talent for the organization."

This year's draft is a biggy for the Mariners and rookie GM Jack Zduriencik.  Talk about sink or swim...  I suppose the question here is whether the $500k difference between the reported Boras asking price of $2m and the reported Mariners offering price of $1.5m is worth the difference between Fields and the replacement pick in June.  I cant really comment on the difference in talent levels between the two drafts - that is almost impossibole to determine in baseball beyond the first couple of picks.  But the Mariners are already loaded with picks in 2009 and have a good shot at getting those players they value the most.  I would suspect they would prefer to lock up Fields, but I think boras is going to have to leave Zduriencik a slight face-saving discount to get it done.

We have our position and they have their position

Bleeding Blue and Teal dont want Josh Fields.  Not the White Sox third baseman, this Josh Fields was the Mariner's first round pick in 2008 (20th overall).  Fields is a reliever from the University of Georgia who could make a quick jump to the MLB level.

This is interesting because negotiations started with Bill Bavasi, but will be finished (or not) with his replacement, Jack Zduriencik.

The quick rundown from mlb.com:

Former club executives Bill Bavasi, the general manager, and scouting director Bob Fontaine expected Fields to sign shortly after the College World Series. The organization offered the All-American closer $1.5 million, but under the advice of Boras, Fields held out for $2 million.

Neither side budged, so Zduriencik inherited the contract impasse when he became the Mariners GM in October.

"We have had discussions with his agent, Scott Boras, both in Las Vegas and again with him last week," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said during his guest appearance on the KIRO Hot Stove League show. "Sometimes these things are a little sensitive, but we are having discussions."

"We have our position and they have their position. Scott has been very gracious in our discussions of late. I don't have an answer right now. We'll try to go down that road and see how it works out."

This is one to watch, as Zduriencik may be drawing a line in the sand.  As a rookie GM, that is a dangerous thing to do - he will either have to back down, or will want to maintain his posturing and lose out on a draft pick that the rebuilding Mariners cant really afford to lose out on, especially not over $500k.  Fields is now only six months away from the 2009 draft, and virtually every big market team has a need for bullpen depth (as usual), so the loss will be Zduriencik's.