CHICAGO — Agent Scott Boras met with a swarm of reporters in the lobby of the O’Hare International Airport Hilton early Tuesday evening, speaking on everything from the state of the game’s economy, to the futures of clients such as Matt Holliday, Johnny Damon, and Jason Varitek, and his relationship with the Red Sox front office.

The get-together lasted more than 30 minutes, and was a prelude to Boras meeting with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein later Tuesday night. With that in mind, here are some of the Red Sox-related highlights:

How would you respond to Jason Bay’s agent calling his client the free agent market’s most complete player?

I represent Matt Holliday and I’ll serve as an advocate. I don’t know what criteria he’s looking at, and that’s fine. All I can tell you is that I’ve been around baseball for a long time as a player and now as an agent and the reality of it that Matt Holliday is a complete player. That’s all I’ll say.

Regarding his relationship with the Red Sox front office

After this season I would say that the Boston Red Sox had a chance to sign Mark Teixeira before the New York Yankees did, because we gave them an offer. That’s the best I can do for owners, it really is. When you give them a chance to sign a player, that’s … the player was earnest in coming there at the time and he presented them with an offer they could have accepted.

Where do we stand with Jason Varitek?

I’m going to be talking with Theo and with Tek in the next day or so … I know Jason well enough to know not to speculate on what Jason is going to do.

What about Daisuke Matsuzaka’s approach this offseason?

He was noticeably different when he came back to Boston and he’s got a workout regime he’s carried on in Japan. I haven’t discussed his offseason schedule with him … I think players have to come in in great shape. Their talent is best served when they’re in great shape. Anything other than that I think it’s an issue both the players and their camp and the team and their camp should earnestly discuss if that’s not the case.

(Note: There is some discussion about Matsuzaka attending Athletes Performance in Arizona)

One quick note: Boras said he believes there are less than 30 franchise players in baseball.

The complete transcript to come …

4 Comments for “Scott Boras holds court”

1. Why Jason Bay Says:
   November 10th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

   Why more then 3 years for Jason Bay? I have no problem even giving the guy 3/60 at $20 per but remember, he will be a DH after the 2nd year of his new contract. If I’m a National league team, I’m not touching him with a ten foot pool…Let someone else make the huge mistake of signing this guy for more then 3 years…I can’t even fathom why the sox supposedly already offered him 4 years at 15 each…Thats 15 millon a year for a DH on the 2nd half of the contract…No way…Give him 3/60 and if he bites you only have to deal with him being a DH for one year(of course that will be a very expensive year)

2. Roll the Dice Says:
   November 10th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

   If Dice gets off to a good start next year, could that make Seattle think about a trade with King Felix? Dice would fit perfect in Seattle if he dumped his no trade clause…I’m sure Seattle would have to see a new and improved Dice though…C’on Dice, were all counting on you to be the ace we know you can so we can trade your ass…

3. Ummm Says:
   November 10th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

   The whole point of the mariners dumping felix is to lose payroll by acquiring young prospects making under a million per. Theyre not gonna wanna pay 9 mil per year for the japanese god of walks. I dont like the idea of getting Bay back. Sure he led the team in homers and rbi’s but he has sucked in the postseasn and gives up at bats. We’ve all seen what Matt Holiday can do when he’s got protection once he got out’ve oakland, why not give him a contract and get a legit powerbat in that line up around youk and victor. If Holliday isnt available, do i dare say it but .. bring Johnny Damon back ? He’s clearly a different kind of player that can hit for power now, and with that short porch in right, 30 HR’S, 40 2B’S, AND 110 RBI.

4. douchebaggeryx2 Says:
   November 11th, 2009 at 6:20 am

   I don’t think Roll the Dice meant a one for one trade with King Felix(or at least i hope he wasn’t that stupid)…I’m guessing he meant the japanese man with a couple of prospects…That is of course the Japanese man pans out…Who knows, the sox may even throw in some money for K.Felix…Its not like Dice-K’s contract is a problem or anything…

Leave a Reply