It didn’t take long for Scott Boras to start hinting at Jayson Werth’s free agent value. The agent, who recently added Werth to his long list of clients, suggested to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the outfielder will be seeking more than the $66MM Jason Bay obtained as a free agent last winter. Without making demands or mentioning dollar figures, Boras made it clear that he considers Werth more similar to Matt Holliday (a Boras client who signed a $120MM deal) than Bay.
“Werth is a totally different type of player [than Bay],” Boras said. “He’s an athlete who can play center field, run, steal bases, be a Gold Glove type outfielder.”
Werth, who has started 18 games in center this year, has spent most of the season in right, but Boras made it clear that the 31-year-old is an option for teams looking to add a center fielder.
“He has the closing speed to play center,” Boras said. “It makes your team so different. Normally you get that production out of a corner outfielder.”
Though most around baseball assume that Werth, a projected Type A free agent, will leave the Phillies, Boras says his client may end up re-signing in Philadelphia.
And this is why players want Boras to be their agent.
werth can also play 3rd, short, 2nd and close out games. he deserves at least 25/per.
He also left out heal the sick, raise the dead & walk on water.
“Gold Glove type outfielder”
So you mean a popular player who makes a few highlight reel plays and isn’t awful at defense…
To be fair, if Boras said that Werth was a “positive UZR and +/- corner outfielder”, most people would have no idea what he was talking about.
Yeah really. It’s not like they show web gems and capital one premier plays everytime Rajai Davis and Chris Denorfia make great plays.
Jayson I understand that Boras is a ash but did you really need to hire him NOW. can you wait until after the playoffs? Maybe instead of throwing batteries at JD Drew we should have hunted down Boras and thrown them at him???
The man just wants to make bank, can’t fault him for that
“Werth is a totally different type of player [than Bay],” Boras said. “He’s an athlete who can play center field, run, steal bases, be a Gold Glove type outfielder and actually hit ”
Okay Scott Boras we understand, Jayson Werth can also win connect 4 in three moves. He also blows bubble gum with beef jerky and is Ray King’s brother in law. Good.
He also helped the Ejyptians build the pyramids, can’t forget that.
Chuck Norris used to be a pitcher, Jayson Werth took him deep as a 9 year old, so he had to switch careers.
Good old Chuck Norris. He puts the laughter in slaughter.
Yeah.
Werth doesn’t take the cookie part of the oreo off to get to the icing. He takes the icing off to get to the cookie.
He also invited Chuck Norris mom out to dinner. Not only that, but he knows Chuck Norria’ brothers, Bud and Derek.
Werth doesn’t sleep. Interesting right? He waits.
He does push downs not push ups, he knits, he was born in cooperstown, and he also hit 2 walk offs in the same game.
I forgot, he also told chuck Norris that he was ugly, and Chuck Norris walked away. Werth also likes Matzoh ball soup. Who doesn’t?
He also drinks Dos Equis.
“If he punched you in the face, you’d have to fight the urge to thank him.”
Sharks have a week dedicated to Jayson Werth’s defensive abilities
“Jayson Werth’s beard alone, has expirienced more than the lesser man’s body.”
Jose Bautista’s Beard > Jayson’s Werth’s Beard
Jose Bautista
His organ donor card also includes his beard.
ahhahahahahah amazinggg
Jose Bautista
His organ donor card also includes his beard.
Jose Bautista’s Beard > Jayson’s Werth’s Beard
“Jayson Werth’s beard alone, has expirienced more than the lesser man’s body.”
I’ll be the first to say that Jayson Werth is great and I’d love to have him back but not at Matt Holliday money if it means we end up saying goodbye to say Cole Hamels in 2013. He’s not worth Holliday money.
not to mention that they’d probably take away dollar dog nights too! Thanks a lot Jayson!
I agree with you. He can do all the thing Boras says but he’s not worth a stupid contract. Bay money sounds right for Werth, but maybe another year, or options.
If boris can convince the cards to bid against themselves then i am sure he can convince someone werth can play centerfield!!!…LMAO
Almost a whole year later you still have not figured out the Cardinals never “bid against themselves” They took several contract offers to Boras/Holliday at one(1) time. They laid out a few different options and let him decide which way he wanted to go. They took a smart approach, that if it were the Yankees would be praised. They put the offers on the table and told him to decide. They weren’t going to allow Boras to drag them into a bidding war. The contract Holliday signed was the same contract offered from the beginning.
“Bid against themselves” doesn’t mean “were somehow deceived into thinking other people made higher offers than them.” It means that they overpaid for a player that nobody else was seriously in on. Whether that was because they felt it was fair value (I hope not!) or feared that if they played hardball a big-budget team might swoop in at lower numbers or that Boras might just take a high-salary 1-year deal elsewhere, I can’t say.
They almost certainly did overpay, though, same as the Mets did with Bay — and without any competition that we know of. That’s why he called it bidding against themselves. You don’t go to an auction and yell out your top bid, even if you’re willing to pay it. You start low in hopes of getting a better deal. If nobody else is bidding — you win.
You can’t “bid against yourself” if you only make one offer. That makes no sense. If you want to say they overpaid that’s fine. But to say they bid against themselves is completely false. Like I said if they would have started low, we would of had the whole run around with the mystery teams and played all of Boras’ games. They put the dollar amount on him that they thought was fair and they made that offer. There was no bidding, and we don’t know if anyone else would of been close to that offer because the Cardinals completely avoided the situation of having another team in on him. Not too bad of a move when your dealing with Boras. He has been fine in year 1 of the contract.
Yea that was kinda the way i was thinking also, but i think the cards must have really wanted Holliday and, the cards did not want to get into bidding and going back and forth so they just went with what they thought he was worth to them. I still think they could have given him less years though….
Thanks for the info, I did not know that Holliday had recieved other offers. Then what the Cards did was a great way to handle boris….just say here is the offer and either sign or not…good for them!! I hope they can get Pujols the same way!!!
I highly doubt that. I guess the only way to get Pujols by saying here “sign or not” would be to hand him a blank check. haha
“They took a smart approach, that if it were the Yankees would be praised.”
Nobody would’ve praised the Yankees for that move. Heck, people were all over them when they essentially outbid themselves on Sabathia.
If the Yankees were to hand the top free agent on the market one contract, and say this is our offer, take it or leave it, and never change the offer, they would be praised for it.
Not if that contract was about $60-80 million higher than anyone else was going to offer.
If the Yankees were to hand the top free agent on the market one contract, and say this is our offer, take it or leave it, and never change the offer, they would be praised for it.
“They took a smart approach, that if it were the Yankees would be praised.”
Nobody would’ve praised the Yankees for that move. Heck, people were all over them when they essentially outbid themselves on Sabathia.
These Boras statements are really getting old.
This is going to be very interesting. Werth is a nice player, some would say a very good player. We know he currently plays in a great situation for his skill set. Great lineup protection (his numbers when Utley and Howard were both out werent that of a type A), Great home ballpark…etc. With those factors being involved and the fact that a team with a non-protected first rd pick would have to forfiet their pick in a talent layden draft, I wouldnt be suprised to see the interest in Werth to be lukewarm at best. I wouldn’t at all be shocked if this turns into this years Johnny Damon situation.
“Werth is a nice player, some would say a very good player. We know he currently plays in a great situation for his skill set. Great lineup protection (his numbers when Utley and Howard were both out werent that of a type A), Great home ballpark…etc.”
NAILED IT
“I wouldnt be suprised to see the interest in Werth to be lukewarm at best. I wouldn’t at all be shocked if this turns into this years Johnny Damon situation.”
You may be right that Jason’s worth may be Damon=Werth
But Werth currently rocks the better hair than Damon!
Not that it was terribly hard, but damn did I call almost exactly the sales pitch Boras was going to use. The only thing I missed was “can play center field.”
I wonder if he’s hiring…
Well, Scott.
When I look at the now 31-year-old Werth, I see him as being most comparable to another of your clients, J.D. Drew, sho signed a 5-year $70M deal in 2007 at age 31. Through 2006 JD posted 3161AB 162HR 509 RBI .286/.393/.512 74SB and 215 CF games. So far, Jayson has posted 2489AB 117HR 397RBI .270/.365/.478 75SB and 103 CF games. As we see it, given that Werth’s performance to date doesn’t quite measure up to Drew’s career totals pre-2007 and taking into account inflation, Werth in 2011 is probably worth exactly what Drew got from Boston in February of 2007.
So how does $70M over 5 years sound to get Werth to sign with our club? (silent pause) Scott? Scott? Are you there, Scott? Scott? Can you hear me, Scott? Are you on a cell? In a tunnel? Hello? Scott?
To be fair, there are far less miles on Werth’s body than there were on Drew’s when he signed that contract. Not that it matters much in the real world, but I could see Boras making that argument. Whether a team buys it or not, who knows.
At this point in his career, I find it hard to imagine that anyone will pay Jayson Werth more than a 100MM dollars. Looking over those numbers, even comparing him to JD Drew seems a little far fetched. When the Red Sox signed JD Drew, they were getting a very consistent player. Jayson Werth is NOT a consistent player. He had a bad wrist injury with the Dodgers that still plagues him from time to time, and didn’t even have the chance at starting in the major leagues until the end of 2007, not that that is his fault. I wouldn’t pay 100MM dollars for a guy that has had four good, but not great, seasons.
Going into his contract year, Werth is a career .270 hitter, with 117 HR’s, a 29.0K% compared to a 12.2 BB%, a good defender who’s (overrated) skills are on the decline… The only thing that Werth has going for him is a weak market. If I was a GM, I’d wait out on him. Any team with common sense won’t give this guy more than a 4-year, 60MM dollar deal, with Scott Boras as his agent or not.
Scott Boras plays the game better than anyone else.
the fact that his “opponents” in the game are generally idiots (the self-inflated, short-sighted, keep-up-with-the-joneses that make up the management of so many teams) only makes him better.
It’s easy: find a guy who’s already been overpaid, compare their stats and insure the new client gets overpaid even more).
He didn’t mention that he’s also a recluse who will do nothing to promote the franchise which goes along with being a 15mil + player. He’d be a nice addition to any team that needs a + RF, producing about 40 d and 18 hr’s. Is that worth more than Bay money?
I think it will come down to where he’s going to be comfortable rather than every last dime. This guy isn’t your typical personality.
Boras forgot Werth can also play C, when in the minor
Boras forgot Werth can also play C, when in the minor
Werth is definitely more valuable than Jason Bay. 5 years/$75MM, in my opinion. ($13MM, $13MM, $14MM, $16MM, $19MM)
Here’s the thing though.. Bay isn’t worth his 5/75… so will teams be weary of topping that number because Bay was overpaid?
They should. Werth is a late bloomer and has a spotty past when it comes to injuries. Guys like that have a knack for a quick decline.
They should. Werth is a late bloomer and has a spotty past when it comes to injuries. Guys like that have a knack for a quick decline.
I’ve always found backloading contracts to be incredibly asinine. You’re paying a guy the most money for his least productive years.
You’re right. A-Rod’s contract is front loaded. But he’s an exceptional case (not exceptional in a good way). As for why contracts are structured in ascending amounts, it’s because usually when a team signs someone to a new, big deal, they’re doing so with the knowledge that they have other big contracts on the books already, coming off the books at some point in the near future, during the new contracts middle years, etc. and they need to account for a ceiling in their yearly budget, so you have to reserve money for someone when THEY’RE at the end of their contract and then you give the next guy less money in his initial years because of that guys backloaded contract, etc. the cycle will never end.
You’re right. A-Rod’s contract is front loaded. But he’s an exceptional case (not exceptional in a good way). As for why contracts are structured in ascending amounts, it’s because usually when a team signs someone to a new, big deal, they’re doing so with the knowledge that they have other big contracts on the books already, coming off the books at some point in the near future, during the new contracts middle years, etc. and they need to account for a ceiling in their yearly budget, so you have to reserve money for someone when THEY’RE at the end of their contract and then you give the next guy less money in his initial years because of that guys backloaded contract, etc. the cycle will never end.
I’ve always found backloading contracts to be incredibly asinine. You’re paying a guy the most money for his least productive years.
Given Werth’s age at the time of these negotiations, he would be more likely to get a front-loaded contract rather than the end-loaded that you mention….teams would not pay more for declining talent. That is typically a contract for a player going into his prime, much like Utley signed a couple of seasons ago….
Werth would likely get a front loaded contract given his age and male pattern-baldness beginning…I mean his skills will begin declining and teams won’t pay MORE for a players “twilight” years – unless you are the Yankees and Derek Jeter
Werth is definitely more valuable than Jason Bay. 5 years/$75MM, in my opinion. ($13MM, $13MM, $14MM, $16MM, $19MM)
Boras should be a “fluffer” on a porno set….
That’s all well and good, Scott, but would you let him babysit your kids?
I guess Boras who thinks Werth knows how to run the bases was not watching when Werth got picked off 2nd twice day dreaming.
I do not feel any of the ball players are worth what they are getting paid but Werth is not worth over $66 mil like him and his agent beleive he is.
Move on Werth as much as I would like to see you stay in Philadelphia if you want that kind of $ just move on. We have others to take your place for a lot less.
I guess Boras who thinks Werth knows how to run the bases was not watching when Werth got picked off 2nd twice day dreaming.
I do not feel any of the ball players are worth what they are getting paid but Werth is not worth over $66 mil like him and his agent beleive he is.
Move on Werth as much as I would like to see you stay in Philadelphia if you want that kind of $ just move on. We have others to take your place for a lot less.
I’d love for Werth to re-sign with Philly at the end of the season. However at 31, I don’t think he is worth (no pun intended) $60M over 4 years. Unfortunately, that would most likely be the starting point in any negotiations.
Unbelievable people think Jayson Werth is out of line for hiring Boras. The Phillies FO pushed him to this. Werth began ST saying all over the place that he wanted to stay w/the Phillies. But the FO preferred to sign Victorino, Blanton, Rollins, acquire Oswalt, and open the bank vaults to let Howard walk in and built a home – almost 2 yrs in advance of needing to sign that contract. Then the FO immed told the papers they “don’t have the money”, and they didn’t even sit down to speak w/Jeff Borris, Werth’s agent at the time. I’m not saying they should or should not have signed one or any of these guys. What I’m saying is – if you’re Werth and you’ve played literally all your life to get to this point, you’re finally on a team you like, a team you THOUGHT liked and respected you, after they do these things – you know they really don’t. Now you look like a fool for having told the world you want to stay in a city that doesn’t want you, you have to move your children, and play for a team you likely don’t want to play for. So you bet he hired the monster Scott Boras. YOU WOULD TOO. Werth’s worth whatever the traffic will allow. That’s what free agency is. Don’t like that – well don’t watch. The Phillies should’ve signed Werth months ago b/c Brown isn’t ready. They’d have had him for less money. Amaro made a mistake. Also take note of the fact that Scott Boras is Brown’s agent too. You think he’s going to stay cheap for long? Think again folks. We should KEEP WERTH. This team will miss him.