Scott Boras says he has "had dialogue" with the Mets regarding Stephen Drew, Newsday's Anthony Rieber reports. Boras also seemed to criticize the Mets, however, for their lack of interest in signing Drew. "The bigger issue is the credibility of the teams that are deficient," said Boras. "They have known weaknesses. … When these players are available and clubs that have weaknesses are not pursuing them, a question of the integrity of what the goals of the organization are come to mind." The Mets still plan to go into the 2014 season with Ruben Tejada as their starting shortstop. Here are more notes from New York.
- One source close to Drew indicates he is unlikely to sign with the Mets, Dan Martin of the New York Post writes. Drew still wants a multiyear deal, and the Mets reportedly don't want to give him one.
- The Mets also haven't had significant talks with the Mariners about middle infielder Nick Franklin, Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets. The Mets had previously been connected to Franklin, who became expendable when the Mariners acquired Robinson Cano.
- The last day to release a player with a non-guaranteed Major League contract and pay just one-sixth of his salary was Wednesday, ESPN New York's Adam Rubin notes (on Twitter). In that context, it may be at least somewhat notable that Ike Davis is still with the Mets. Davis suffered through a disappointing season in 2013 and now has a calf injury. Davis has frequently been connected to other teams in trade rumors and is set to make just $3.5MM in 2014, however, so it seems unlikely the Mets would release him. They could, however, still do so and only pay one-fourth of his salary if they make the decision by March 26.
Mets should just give Drew a deal already. It’s clear that Rueben Tejada has no interest in doing what it takes to remain a major league shortstop. Drew isn’t bad on a three year deal if we can get it done. We have zero shortstop prospects that are going to be ready in the next 2-3 years. Nick Franklin doesn’t project much better that Wilmer Flores as a shortstop so that deal doesn’t make sense.
Drew’s the kind of guy that just wants to play. Last year he took less from Red Sox than the Yankees were offering so he could be an everyday player. The longer they wait, the more desperate Drew will get to get in the game. As much as I like and respect Drew, I find this satisfying because of Scott Boras.
If he was the type of guy that just wants to play he wouldn’t be willing to wait until June to play….
That’s Boras… Drew is somebody who regrets not taking the Red Sox qualifying offer… Meanwhile, Boras is probably like “Hold off, hold off… I’ll get you more money” …But Drew is not superstar talent, so Boras overplayed his hand (because of the weak SS market), and Drew is now paying the price.
That’s Boras… Drew is somebody who regrets not taking the Red Sox qualifying offer… Meanwhile, Boras is probably like “Hold off, hold off… I’ll get you more money” …But Drew is not superstar talent, so Boras overplayed his hand (because of the weak SS market), and Drew is now paying the price.
If Drew was the kind of guy who “just wants to play”, not only would he have signed a contract with someone by now (or just taken the qualifying offer the Red Sox offered him).. He would have someone other than Boras representing him.
The fact that Boras is his agent just makes him look like another lazy greedy ballplayer
What makes him lazy just because Boras represents him?
Can Wilmer Flores actually play shortstop? I was under the impression he’s a first/third-baseman, maybe second, but that the shortstop ship had sailed.
short was his natural position.
The key operative there is “was”
imo, they should trade for one of arizona’s SS prospects.
I heard Arizona is asking for a lot in return. The rumor I saw they wanted TDA. I think the Mets would be better off paying Drew, than trading their farm.
That is a lot. Mets would be trading a key for a key at that point.
No, he cannot. Wright would probably be better, actually.
Scott Boras the bully of MLB.
If Boras think his client is worth so much, he should supplement a subpar contract with his own cash. :p
Maybe genius Boras should have had Drew sign the Qualifying Offer. Then, he wouldnt need to resort to seventh-grade tactics of insulting teams to gain interest in his clients.
I think MLB should investigate and fine Boras for making salacious statements about a specific organization’s integrity! I am not a Mets fan, I am a Twins fan. “Mr. Boras, have you no decency?”
No one wants Nick Franklin, at least not for a real SP. M’s gonna have to hold onto him and hope.
Well, truth be told most of the smarter guys have been saying for years that Franklin doesn’t have the range for SS. It’s probably true. He’s very good at 2nd base, but still has the occasional what the? gaff.
His bat is legit. I would like the M’s to send him to Tacoma and learn some OF. If they can’t trade him for his value, keep the bat in the system.
I wouldn’t say people don’t want him, it’s just the M’s are trying to sell him as a SS because it has more value than a 2nd baseman.
There are plenty of teams who need an upgrade at 2B. I just don’t think other teams value him nearly as high as the M’s (and especially M’s fans). No one’s going to trade a legit SP for him, or even a starting OF I’d guess. Sending him to AAA is a little risky: If he has a bad attitude about it he could really damage his value.
They should hold onto Franklin. Let’s see him tear up AAA and maybe another team will have an injury, or we may have one of our own – then we’ll be glad we have Nick Franklin. If the offer isn’t there, which it appears it isn’t – the M’s should keep him.
Like that is a problem? Franklin has MiLB options and is versatile all around the IF. Problem is he needs F/T ab’s and can’t get them as a utility player. M’s don’t get a suitable offer and he goes to Tacoma, not given away.
The bigger problem is that Franklin has potential and the Mariners have been doing a poor job of developing their higher ceiling players to contribute at the Major League level. Granted, some kids are going to miss but look at the guys who have been ranked high and haven’t been able to make it and stick in Seattle or anywhere else in the majors in recent years: Aumont, Fields, Liddi, Montero, Francisco Martinez, Pimentel, Ruffin…the list goes on.
Yeah, clearly, the team with the need, the want and means to trade for an upgrade in Nick Franklin, and the want not to commit more than a year or two year, no opt-out, to Stephen Drew is failing as a legitimate spender. Or has Boras forgotten the Mets committed 2/20 to Bartolo Colon and 4/60 to Curtis Granderson, a year & 7.25 MM to Chris Young, and have locked up two of their core members for the long-term in Wright and Niese and may also need to do so with Murphy if he’s in their long-term plans? They’re not spending at 2005-2009 levels when they signed Castillo, Perez, Wagner, Beltran, Pedro, Reyes/Wright extensions, picked up Delgado, signed K-Rod, extended Johan, etc., but that was top-of-the-top spending. They’re spending like a team just getting over a pair of dead-weight contracts and finding the light at the end of the long tunnel that was Bernie Madoff- which, you know, the Mets are.
Boras, I think the lack of interest is mutual for the Mets and Drew.
The Mets don’t want your client. No amount of criticism is going to trick them into saying okay here is a 3/36 deal.
That still wouldn’t get him signed. If the Mets offer Drew that today, he says no.
Boras should have been a DJ, cause that dude is the master of spin.
Sounds like Boras, in his desperation to reap some return after blowing up his clients’ expectations, is getting foolish. After that remark, if I’m the Mets I just stop taking his calls until there’s a public apology. Agents really aren’t bigger than the game, at best they are useful parasites.
I like Drew but he’s just not a good fit with the Mets, they would have too many left handed hitters.
Granderson…Ike/Duda…..Who else?
Murphy too, but I guess it’s not too bad as long as Ike and Duda don’t start together.
Oh, that wacky Scott Boras. Now he’s playing fantasy GM. How adorable.
Drew and Morales should drop Boras as their agent. He has lost it and is hurting them as he burns bridges left and right.
That’s what people said to Lohse last year before he signed a 3/33 deal for his age 34-36 seasons
It’s quite rich that Mr. Boras has taken it upon himself to point out there are teams not stocking up their rosters with his overpriced and under performing players. He was insane to believe that Drew or Morales could get something approaching the qualifying offer. It’s even worse in regards to Morales. Maybe the two can play some meaningful one on one wiffle ball games at Scttys complex until after the draft!
A 3.4 WAR player is almost never worth what a QO is? Of all the QO free agents who have signed this year, their average 2013 WAR was 3.6 and they averaged 16 million AAV salary for an average of 3-4 years.
Well obviously teams seem to be hesitant. Somebody will ultimately sign Drew, although I doubt it will be 14 million a year. Morales is another story. He is currently a DH and Boras can spin it any way he likes, he is not a fit for NL clubs. His best option is to hope he can go back to Seattle. Teams thus far have decided that regardless of these guys WAR, they are not enough of an upgrade to give up their first round pick plus the contract.
Boras is complaining because no one wants to deal with him Drew would have been playing in he Spring if he had another agent. Boras should just shut his mouth can’t wait for Jay-Z to take over all his players.
Boras is pointing out a significant problem for MLB today. There are many teams who no longer care about competing, being content with collecting revenue sharing dollars, national tv money, RSN money and franchise valuation inflation. Attendance is no longer the driving force it once was, it matters not whether they win 65 games or 85 games, so why invest in players that make you 3-4 wins better? Teams have a monopoly in their markets, and in the summer there are no sports to compete with.
Here is a mediocre player that turned down a 14 mil qualifying offer? Excuse me if I don’t shed crocodile tears.
And then there’s the injuries…
I also like the fact this is frustrating Boras – what a great quote: “The bigger issue is the credibility of the teams that are deficient,”Translated it reads, “I am mad teams balked at overpaying my client!”
Drew is going to wind up somewhere but obviously overestimated his value wildly. Boras had the option of going for less time at that annual yearly salary or the higher number for a shorter period. Boras is doing what a good agent does – trying to get the most money for his client that the market won’t nibble is not collusion as much as market forces playing themselves out.
As for the Mets, Drew is not the impact player that will put them over the top and to allocate that much in terms of dollars is foolish – having suffered through the contracts of Jason Bay and Oliver Perez (to name a few) in recent years, the Mets not ponying up is a good sign.
Agreed 100%!