Alex Rodriguez sent a letter to Scott Boras 45 days ago to inform the agent that he no longer requires his representation, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. Bob Nightengale of USA Today first reported the news and Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports soon confirmed the report. Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp advise Rodriguez, according to USA Today. But as Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out on Twitter, they are not his baseball agents.
Boras negotiated Rodriguez's ten-year $252MM deal and his ten-year $275MM deal, the two biggest contracts in baseball history. Rodriguez's current contract expires when he's 42, so he won't need to negotiate another deal for a while. Here is MLBTR's list of Scott Boras clients.
Kevin
Why not? He’s got his money already, anyway…
A cheater, getting millions of dollars he doesn’t deserve… when we have hard working people in America, risking their lives for others, who get in a YEAR what this guy makes in a called strikeout…
CincoSeisDos
what the “common folk” make compared to an athlete is a dead overused and very stupid “point” to try and make when it’s so flawed.
Kevin
So… firefighters, police officers, our military servicepeople?
Yeah, A-Roid deserves so much more than all of them. All he did his shoot himself with a needle and swing a piece of wood at a white ball.
CincoSeisDos
Tell me who is sponsoring these service people, how much money many companies have invested in any of those individuals and what percentage if any they should use to compensate said servicemember for using his or her likeliness in order to rake in the dough?
Look, I get what you’re saying, and I agree. But lets face it, for whats invested and what he brings in, he’s being fairly compensated.
Josh
Fairly compensated?? Really? These are men playing a boys game that most of us played at some point in our lives. Again, a game. And what exactly does A-Rod bring in? The Yankees didnt need his help filling seats at The Stadium. He has helped the Yanks win a total of 1 World Series titles. Sure he is a good player, at one time a great player, but as is the case with ALL Steroid accused, confessed, or caught ball players, they will never be considered great. Just cheaters. Thanks and have a good day.
David
how many freakin world series do you think would justify his salary, you expect them to win every year ? the yankees are making a TON of money. a rod, a cheat and a whatever eles you want to call him is one of the best who ever played how ever you slice it. a rod is better at his job than any of the people you mention. Soldiers, cops firefighters have far more important jobs than a rod and should be paid better than they are but nobody pays big $$$ to watch them do their jobs.
$1639238
Here’s my problem with people who whine about baseball players salaries compared to say, yours. The market will pay them that amount AND they are doing less evil than most anyone else making millions of dollars a year. A-Rod isn’t making his millions by polluting Peru or running unsafe mining operations, he’s making his millions by hitting a baseball.
bperk
It’s basic economics. There are very few people who can do what A-Rod can do. There are lots of people who have the tools to be firefights, police officers, etc.
twins33
As a firefighter myself, I liked this comment. It’s a true statement. It’s just the way it is.
moonraker45
Woops, I liked that by accident.. what about surgeons? Doctors alike? just anyone can stroll in and be one of those right.
BaseballFanatic0707
Much easier than they can stroll right in and play professional baseball.
moonraker45
Whats your basis for that? Do you honestly believe that conducting brain surgery or heart surgery is easier and less rare then being a baseball player.
I think you guys are playing up the rarity of baseball and athletics.. it comes down to economics, owners want more money so they charge fans more. Players see owners with more money so they want a bigger cut. Its a money circle thats funded by fans paying 100 for a ticket and 8 dollars for a beer.
BaseballFanatic0707
There are more brain surgeons and heart surgeons out there than there are legit major league baseball players.
And I would contend that, yes. There are teams of surgeons that work on individual cases of surgery. This is different than a team in the sense of baseball. In baseball, people can give you all the tools and advice in the world. It’s up to you to hit that 95mph fastball.
It’s also much harder to get on to an MLB club. There are probably 5 brain/heart surgeons for every 1 MLB player, and that’s being conservative.
Tiffs
I am not a brain surgeon, but I am an oral surgeon and I can tell you unequivocally that there are oodles more people in this country that have the natural ability to be a surgeon than those who can hit a 95 mph fastball 400 feet.
David
i agree, doctors and surgeons are really not smarter than every one else they are well trained, motivated, dedicated people sure but if someone puts the work in at school they can be a doctor
moonraker45
and how do u get more trained? do they just accept anyone in to medical school?
David
you go to school, do the work, have the desire to do such things and you can become a doc. having some cash probably helps
ryankrol
Like other athletes, movie stars, musicians, etc., he keeps those service people entertained to keep them from losing it when in battle. That’s one reason celebrities make as much money as they do.
rockiesmagicnumber
you don’t like it? quit watching major sports.
Cade White
AMEN!
anthony
Plain and simple, very well put.
foxtown
You forgot to mention that the MLBPA is much more powerful than any police or firefighters union.
MatthewRKeller
Hahahaha look at you, aren’t you precious. A-Roid. I bet you spent all night thinking up that one. I bet you’re all aflutter about Barry Bonds too.
Kevin
This type of comment is really pretty pointless. It just comes off as sour grapes. Professional athletes have jobs that are extremely rare and therefore heavily compensated. The marketplace rewards them for their rare skill set. You’d be hard pressed to find someone who thinks ARod “deserves” his salary, but deserve has nothing to do with it. Go create something the market values if you want to be compensated like a professional athlete. Otherwise, spare us the sanctimoniousness.
CincoSeisDos
You get it, agreed 100%
I shall now call you, smart Kevin
Dave_Gershman
I actually have no idea what most of the words you used mean…But if Luis called you smart Kevin, so be it.
sabernar
I think the word you’re looking for is “sanctimony”.
moonraker45
Is it that rare really? or is it that the fans are being gauges at the door, the owners pockets are being filled with money, so the players need to be fairly compensated based on the overpricing at the door, jerseys, merchandise,drinks, food etc.. .
Kevin
Yes, it is that rare. Really. Count the numbers of humans who play Major League baseball. Then count the number of humans in America. Then divide the former by the latter. Not only that, but ARod is an extreme outlier within his own profession. When he signed that deal, he was one of the 2 best people on earth at hitting baseballs thrown by Major League pitchers. I’m sure the 2 best surgeons in the world make a ridiculous amount of money every year, but there isn’t a website called worldsbestsurgeontraderumors.com for people to complain about making less than those guys.
Also, ticket prices aren’t high just because owners are greedy. That might be part of it, but ticket prices are just another side of the market economics coin. Ticket prices are high because people buy high priced tickets. If nobody bought the tickets, they’d probably be cheaper. Prices aren’t set by an owner waking up one day and saying, “Gee, I don’t have enough money. I’ll gouge my fanbase so I can buy that 13th vacation house I’ve always wanted.” They’re set after analyzing economic data of the local market. Most of the money to pay these guys probably comes from TV revenue and not gate receipts, anyway.
Dave_Gershman
It’s the Market that was set for him to demand that much. It isn’t like he just asked for that out of the blue. I bet 100 years ago you would have gone buzzurk when player A got 100,000 per season.
Piccamo
Elite players were always fairly well compensated. For example, Ty Cobb in 1927 received $80k, which in today’s value is nearly $1MM, though for most of his career he was “only” compensated for the equivalent of around $300k. Babe Ruth was similarly compensated. The players also had incentives for various milestones and awards that could nearly equal their salaries for the year. I remember reading that one year Ruth’s salary was more than that of the U.S. president.
While proportionally the players receive more these days (as they should compared to how much profit they give investors), it’s not like they were scraping by even 100 years ago.
wolf9309
that’s kinda funny. Right now, the President makes league minimum ($400k)
Slopeboy
To paraphrase the Babe…’Most players are having a better year than the president…”
twins33
When Kirby Puckett made six million a year and became the richest ballplayer that was amazing. Ripken quickly made more, but people thought that was a huge deal then. That was about 20 years ago.
Dave_Gershman
Exactly what I’m saying…the value of a star increases. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m about to eat a shake shack burger.
NYY92
bro get over yourself.he did it a long time ago.i guarentee the team you like has or had at least one abuser.
rockiesmagicnumber
nuh uh there’s no way the Rockies have any juicers or former juicers
now be quiet Giambi is about to bat
coolstorybro222
A-Roid has a conscience now?
David
who cares? it screws over borass and that makes it a good move. he dosent need him anymore anyway
CincoSeisDos
Why do you need an agent when you’re covered for the rest of your career?
If anything Boras moved on as well, he milked Alex for all he could
Piccamo
He may feel like he could get more endorsement deals. Maybe he wants to appear in a movie or something as well. Agents do a bit more than just negotiate salaries with MLB clubs.
gocrazy
He definitely wants to be in a movie, something where he saves the world and becomes a hero.
David
good point
Brandon Woodworth
He’ll never need another contract, so why not?
Dave_Gershman
I bet Scott Boras just sent a mean letter to A-Rod in and he wrote it in Comic Sans font. But if I were A-Rod, I wouldn’t need an agent either. 250MM isn’t all that bad anyway.
moonraker45
comic sans is awesome
rockiesmagicnumber
HE WANTS TO TASTE THE CURB
SrMeowMeow
a thousand times yes
Dave_Gershman
Right?
AJCBE
I have a feeling this is just a ploy by A-Rod to win back some fans. If he were due another big contract there is no way this would happen.
ellisburks
Satan fireing Satan really doesn’t win back fans.
ukJaysfan
Agents don’t only negotiate contracts. They serve other functions as well, including representation in the media and public appearances. Boras and his crew don’t just negotiate a contract and sit around making money off it.
AJCBE
Obviously, but the main reason everyone wants Boras is because he’s the best negotiator. Other agents can do that type of work, and do it well, throughout the span of the contract.
airohpue13
That’s what a publicist is for. I’m sure A-Roid has one of those too.
dgirton88
Aroid is a fraud. Glad he will never be in the hall. Hope he breaks a leg and never plays another game. Will make the game better.
CincoSeisDos
Yeah, that’s the spirit!
Let’s wish ill on the health of others! That’ll show them!
I’m no A-Rod fan by any stretch of the imagination, but that is just pathetic
dgirton88
If baseball wants to clean their sport they need to get rid of the cancers or Roid users. People like Aroid. Till the roid users are exiled the sport will always have problems.
Ill admit my comment was wrong but at the same time i want aroid out of the sport any way possible. Being suspended would be better lol.
CincoSeisDos
personally, between the contract holdouts, assault , rape, murder and gun charges that both football and basketball deal with on a daily basis, i’ll take the steroid “scandal” any day of the week.
I don’t get on anybody who allegedly or admittedly used PEDs case because it wasn’t frowned upon when it was happening, it was just what was happening and Saint Selig was well aware of it.
It took Congress getting involved for these guys to make minimal moves to appease the masses, when quite frankly what they’re “doing” still is far from the mark of what should be done.
dgirton88
Oh i agree with that. There are bigger problems else where in other sports. I also think one of the main problems for Major League Baseball is Bud Selig. He has got to be the worse commissioner out of the 4 major sports leagues. How a guy like Pete Rose is not in the hall is one thing i will not understand but is a topic for another time.
wtk
So you are pro-“Pete Rose being in the Hall” but anti-“A-Rod being in the Hall?”
Hmm…
-wtk
dgirton88
Whats wrong with that? Rose never cheated. He bet, big deal.
SrMeowMeow
betting on baseball games is against the rules you know
airohpue13
NO! Do you know anything of David Stern’s work? The guy rigged a lottery.
Just_MLB
umm as far as the criminal stuff…baseball has some stuff of their own as well…josh hamilton playing the modern day darryl strawberry….brett myers shadowboxing 6 inches from his wife’s face….phillies prospect gilles just charged with cocaine possesion…Ugueth Urbina arrested for murder…Ambiorix Burgos arrested…the list goes on and on…
moonraker45
assault, rape, murder, gun charges, dog fights etc didn’t hurt the integrity of the nba or nfl.. Steroids essentially robbed hard working, tallented heros of records they owned and compromised essentially every player since then who has enjoyed success to be included in the possible steriod user conversation.
The only thing that has come close, is the match fixing scandal in the nba and Italian Soccer.
Sure there are worst things going on the world. but thats not relative to baseball.
rockiesmagicnumber
so did amphetamines but I don’t hear anyone clamoring to shoot Ricky Henderson in front of a baseball tribunal
BaseballFanatic0707
In what world do you live in that you think those things didn’t hurt the integrity of the nba or nfl?
Because I can direct you to quite a number of people that feel extremely differently than you do. It’s not cheating like steroids, but it can be just as damning for a sport as them.
You don’t think the Rothelsburgers (yeah, butchered, blame him for the long name) and Michael Vicks of the world don’t hurt the reputation of the NFL? The Gilbert Arenas-es of the world don’t hurt the reputation of the NBA? Right, because there’s absolutely nothing damning about a sport if their players rape people, kill animals, or pull out a gun on a teammate in a locker room. In no way/shape/form does it reflect badly on those that are in positions of management and power in these other organizations when their players do something stupid.
Seriously, dude. Saying steroids are worse is all fine and stuff, but to say that stuff didn’t hurt the integrity of the nfl and nba? Absurd.
moonraker45
It didn’t hurt the integrity of the game yes, i stand by my point. Obviously their are negatives affects, but they are more individual and team negatives, then the actual game entirely. . Obviously the NBA has a perception problem, why else would they have to implement a dress code. but whether michael jordan came naked to a game or wore a 3 piece suit, it didn’t change the fact of what he did on the court. . Now can you just imagine the backlash if it was discovered that MJ, or Magic or Chamberlain used PEDs? ?
There will be no asterix in any nba record book, same with nfl. Sure the Rothlisburger (i’ll butch it too) and Arenas was a major PR hit, but by next year it will all be forgotten. Where as 10 years from now, people will still be accusing the next player to turn his career around for using steroids, and will probably be debating Arods, Mannys, etc acceptance in to the hall of fame. .
BaseballFanatic0707
Incorrect. it is not just an individual or team negative. It affects the entire league and the perception people have on the game. By the way, a negative perception upon something is also an attack upon the integrity of something, as people will be less likely to think highly of someone like David Stern and the NBA if players are bringing guns into locker rooms, for example.Again, you cannot deny that the NBA and NFL’s integrities are hurt by these player discretions. I even specifically said that steroids are worse at doing this. But your problem is that you are comparing everything to PEDs here when there are many other things that hurt the integrity of a league. The NBA is basically a joke and the NFL is starting to become a league full of drug heads and convicts. Those kinds of things are integrity-damning.
moonraker45
You’re confusing the perception and reputation of the league, with integrity of the actual game.. You’re making valid points, and you are definitely not wrong. I’m merely talking about the integrity of the actual on field/court product. Sure the NBA is a joke and needs to tell their players how to dress properly, but in 50 years, people won’t remember gilbert arena’s for his idiotic mistake.
For a baseball example look at robbie alomar. Great player, made a bad mistake. He will probably go into the hall of fame next time around. Was it a PR nightmare? did it put an ugly mole on his reputation? Sure. But was it enough to taint the game? Maybe, but it was shortlived, which is why he’ll be a HOFer.. Gilbert Arenas personal mistake, Rothlisburger’s hands that won’t stay to himself are footnotes to the games themselves. They do not compromise the game. I mean if you are a star player, having a good year and gilbert arenas brings guns to his game, does it affect you? not much..
If your a star pitcher, or batter and your opponent is on juice and your not. does it affect you?
Piccamo
You act as though baseball is some sort of sanctified sport. There have always been scandals and questionable ethics. From amphetamines to gambling to scuffing the ball to hollow bats to sliding spikes up to steroids, there has always been someone trying to get on top somehow in the sport or something going on that the populace considers questionable.
I’m of the mind that the steroids and hormones that do not cause long-term side effects should be legal.
rockiesmagicnumber
bad news people still like ARod and Baseball is as profitable as ever
I’m sure Selig will get right on that, ridding the game of a whole pile of awesome players.
dgirton88
Yeah Aroid is so awesome he cant even play right now lol. Only people who like Aroid are Yankee fans and no one cares what they think.
rockiesmagicnumber
you did read my username, right?
dgirton88
Yes i have. Never said you liked Aroid or anything. Simply stated the only supports of Aroid are Yankee fans. Whoever they may be.
rockiesmagicnumber
I think ARod is awesome.
BaseballFanatic0707
You are seriously some raging, blind Yankee hater, aren’t you?
dgirton88
Nope just hate Aroid. The guy cheats and gets millions more then any other player. Funny thing is he isn’t even the best. Not even the best 3rd baseman in baseball. Not even the best offensive player. People like Pujols make Aroid look like a joke.
Another thing is its ashame to see players like Bonds, Sosa, Aroid get so many home runs when players like Hank, Ruth, and Griffey were doing it the right way.
BaseballFanatic0707
So you say you only hate A-Rod, yet, in another comment, you say no one cares what Yankee fans think.
Do you like the taste of your foot in your mouth?
Piccamo
Dislike.
wickedkevin
I’m surprised this wasn’t announced during the first NFL game or something.
moonraker45
or during the world series, game 4 perhaps
Just_MLB
I hate the fact that everyone knows how much money an individual makes, but NO ONE knows how much money the team makes. What percentage of player salary accounts for total liability….and what are all the assets ( revenue, etc ). Getting the whole picture would really set people on fire.
dgirton88
You think the Yankees organization makes as much as they pay everyone, players, coaches, trainers, workers, etc? Cause i dont buy it. They dont even sell out games in that new stadium lol.
melonis_rex
Uhh, yeah they do.
Forbes valued the net worth of the Yankees organization in April 2010 as about 1.6 BILLION.
Their payroll is about 200 MM.
Just_MLB
what people never understand, is that even if they break even on stadium costs vs. ticket sales, the money they make on advertising from YES network is the real money maker. Not merchandising ( that all gets pooled into the pot )…the reality is as fans and supporters, we should demand they open their books and be accountable, especially if we get to know every knook and cranny of every players contract.
The_Silver_Stacker
safe to say you do not have a degree in business
dgirton88
Save to assume you’re a Yankee bandwagon fan.
rockiesmagicnumber
what does his fandom have to do with you not understanding the YES network’s revenue stream for the Yankees franchise?
nemss
The Yankees have lost money on operating income over the past five years (except in ’09, when they won the WS). So yes, minus the effect of the TV revenue they generate, they lost money. The TV revenue is what keeps them so far above everyone else.
forbes.com/lists/2010/33/baseball-valuations-10_Ne…
rockiesmagicnumber
sounds about accurate
BaseballFanatic0707
safe to assume you cannot defend your incorrect point and instead decide to make a random attack on another commenter.
Try again.
logicx24
The Yankees have like sold out every game for the past two years, probably even more.
moonraker45
ahahahaha yes, you are right, the yankees lose money . lol thats what they do, they lose money.
melonis_rex
He’ll probably be out of baseball by the time his contract is over anyway.
leberquesgue
This seems like as good a venue as any to ask an old question that bugs me from time to time:
When A-Rod opted out of his contract in 2007, the report was that the Yankees were pissed because they would lose the remaining money that the Rangers owed, resulting in the period that Fall where the sides didn’t talk, until A-Rod reached out to the Yankees. Yet, I noticed during the Rangers bankruptcy story this year that they are still paying A-Rod. What happened there? Was there a loophole in the old contract that meant the Rangers had to continue paying on the new contract?
Kevin
I think part of his contract with them included deferred money, so they’re still on the hook for that.
Piccamo
From Cot’s Baseball Contracts, looking at A-Rod:
# Texas obligated to fund $9M as part of deferred compensation provision in previous contract (to be paid with interest in $3M increments in 2008, 2009 & 2010)
MadmanTX
Bet Boras is crying all the way to the bank. He already collected his commission.
ryetoons
Boris must have told ARod to get off his mound…..
rockiesmagicnumber
and then he went to try and get that moose and sqvirrel
Rays Fan 33
baseball is nothing more than a game people risk there lives everyday in war yet celebrities or high profile sports players get the attention and money i enjoy sports but its not high on my priorities in life.there is so much better things than sports to me that i have control over.as for this i bet if any of you were to play in the mlb you would want to for money to regardless of team and would sign with scott boras lets try to be less biased with this cuz baseball isnt really a life or death sort of a thing your all just fans sorry if its mean but its the truth
wtk
Ask Ray Chapman or Mike Coolbaugh…
-wtk
YanksFanSince78
Baseball is entertainment. No one bats an eye at the absurd amount of money that actors and studio execs make either. The fact that a hack and talentless person like Lindsey Lohan can get $1 mil to host a NYE party in Vegas or a mil for an auto-biographical tell all book tells you how we roll in the good old USA. It’s survival of the fattest to say the least. As far as Arod and most ball players are concerned. I’m sure many of them would play for a fraction of what they earn if the owners weren’t charging as much as they were now. Arod is rich…the person that pays him is wealthy. That is the greatest analogy you can use. It’s a world wher billionaires are paying millionaires and we (the fans) are at the bottom of the food chain. As for the comparison of athletes vs teachers, firemen and cops, the day you’re willing to pay $30 bucks to see Ms. Johnson teach addition and subtraction to a 2nd grader you let me know. Until then, stop the silly apples and oranges comparisons and enjoy “it” for what it is…..entertainment. Jenna Jameson earned about $20 mil last year doing porn and I guarantee 99.9% of you would rather pay to see her work her “craft” than you would a firefighter or cop so stop being hypocritical.
moonraker45
you’re always good for a great post..
invader3k
I’m confused…I thought A-Rod already dropped Boras a couple years ago when the negotiations with the Yankees seemed to be stalling?
YanksFanSince78
No he didn’t drop him but he did decide to negotiate the new deal with the Yanks w/o him. He was just used to write up the deal in terms of language but it was Arod along with either Warren Buffet or some dude from Sachs Goldman that was a mutual friend of Buffet/Arod that actually did the direct negotiations. There was another player though that did drop Arod around the same time I think.
MatthewRKeller
Hey guys, check this out!
A-Roid.
Aren’t I the very pinnacle of hilarity? Maybe for my next act I’ll wish ill will on a person I’ve never met, or talked to simply because he makes a bunch of money and plays for the mean ol’ Yankees.
/is literally a child