The Scott Boras Free Agent Primer

I have been saying all along Scot Boras robs people for sub-par talent. Maybe his clients stop trying once they get their $$, or maybe they stop juicing... who knows. As a GM i would never sign a Boras player ever.

P.S. They forgot Dreifort and Gagne too.

I posted what follows near the bottom of the previous thread, where it was probably missed by a number of bloggers. In the most recent issue of Baseball America, which features the top 10 prospects of all the American League Central teams (the National League West will follow in a later issue), Carlos Santana was rated the #1 prospect in the Cleveland Indians system. That's the same Carlos Santana that the Dodgers gave away to get Casey Blake. What's even more disturbing is the reason he was included in the deal. Apparently, he (along with Jon Meloan) were offered when Cleveland agreed to pick up the remaining $2 million on Blake's contract. Bonuses greater than $2 million are regularly given to top amateur prospects. Considering that Santana was already an accomplished young PROFESSIONAL prospect at a demanding position (catcher), you would think that $2 million would not have been enough to get the deal done. Again, this is a further indication that the McCourt's are simply not willing to spend, at least at this time.

So really, I'm not in the least bit interested in the history of Boras clients. What I am interested in knowing, is how shortsighted is Dodgers management that it would surrender one of its top prospects (now # 1 in the Cleveland organization) for less than is often spent on AMATEUR players (both draft picks and international signings)? Coupled with Jamie McCourt's comments about fields vs. free agents, and Frank McCourt's comments concerning the economy, I wonder exactly what the priorities in the organization are.

Anyone who has read my comments in the past knows that I strongly believe in building from within. However, that does not mean I oppose filling holes with talented veteran free agents. Again, as I mentioned in an earlier post, perhaps McCourt has a long term plan to increase revenues before committing to significant spending. And maybe not. Whatever the case, I wonder whether any real spending is contemplated.

Furthermore, I would even feel better if the Dodgers were spending heavily on young amateur talent. But even on that front it appears to me that the Dodgers are lacking. During the last two years I have seen very little evidence that the Dodgers have been major spenders during the July international signing period. Also, in 2007 they refused to go over slot to sign their #5 draft pick (Kyle Blair). Blair was considered a first round talent, but difficult sign. When they made the pick the Dodgers had to know that signing Blair would be expensive. Consequently, they should have been prepared to go over slot to sign him, or they simply should have drafted a signable player. Suffice to say, Blair chose to enroll in college.

Now that teams have to decide whether to offer salary arbitration to their potential free agents, and with the winter baseball meetings just a week away (Dec. 8-11 in Las Vegas), there should be some movement on the free agent front, and possibly some trades, soon.

Benzo,
As GM of the Blog league you need to head over to those local meetings in LV and set the Parking lot attendant along with Flanders straight about the proper way to run the team and who to pick up as a free agent this winter....We are all counting on you to come through for us