Scott Boras

I've been meaning to write about my meeting with player agent Scott Boras last week at Coors Field. Unfortunately, this blogging system was jacked up and I wasn't able to post.
Anyway, one of the most despised men in baseball from a management point of view, was in Denver to visit with some clients. On the Rockies, Boras represents Dexter Fowler, Ryan Spilborghs and Carlos Gonzalez. The reason I say despised is because he drives a hard bargain and does his job very well, that job being get as much money for his client as he can.
Boras was very friendly and I brought up one of his former players, Matt White. White was a bonus baby who signed a 10.2 million dollar bonus with the Tampa Bay Rays in 1996. Ten years later, he was out of baseball, never having reached the Major Leagues due to some devastating shoulder injuries. Too bad. He was a good guy and I got to know him when announcing his minor league games at Hudson Valley.
Anyway, when I asked Boras about White, he told me he just spoke to him and that he's the pitching coach at the University of Michigan.
Couple of things. I'm glad White is back in baseball. Two, I was impressed that Boras had just spoken to him. I'm guessing that a lot of agents, once a player is done making money for him, just lose touch and pretty much dispose of an athlete. Not Boras.
I asked Boras why we never read about his players going broke when they were done playing and he told me that he employs a group of people that he called the "money police." They educate the players on money and they watch their spending habits. They explain things such as buying a house. Why buy a house when you can lease? If you buy a house in Cleveland and then you get traded to Seattle, then you have to sell your house at a 40% loss. He gave the example of Magglio Ordonez who leases a home in the Detroit area.
He also said that while athletes love cars, having several cars that cost money for insurance and maintenance which also depreciate is not a wise move.
Talking to Boras I got the sense that he really cares about this clients. He only has about 80 players that he represents. He could certainly have more if he wanted. He also only deals with baseball players because as a former minor league player, "that's what I know."
People call Boras greedy but I think that if he really was a greedy guy he would have more clients in all sorts of sports. But he couldn't give them all the personal attention he feels he deserves.
If Boras represented radio people, I'd look to become his client in a heartbeat.
So the next time you hear someone badmouth Scott Boras, think again.