Is Scott Boras to Blame? Top Free Agents Still Waiting Thanks to MLB’s Most Polarizing Agent

Forget bustling trade floors and overflowing champagne buckets. This MLB offseason is an eerie tango, with tumbleweeds waltzing past silent ballparks. At the heart of this enigma stands Scott Boras, baseball’s flamboyant impresario, conducting an orchestra of elite talent… stuck in neutral. Are Boras’ astronomical demands the culprit, or is the market out of step with his symphony?

Buckle up baseball fans, as we delve into the ‘Boras Marketplace’, where the fate of baseball’s finest hangs in the balance. The Boras Ballet is about to begin, and it’s going to be one hell of a doozy.

Is Scott Boras the blockbuster busting the Free Agent Market?

Scott Boras, the maestro of mega-deals, has a client list longer than a CVS receipt, and many of the biggest free agents are patiently waiting under his wing. So, is Boras the puppet master, yanking on the strings of free agency, or is it just a slow waltz of the baseball market?

Bellinger’s Bonanza on Hold: Remember 2019’s NL MVP? Bellinger’s bat went south faster than a runaway scooter, but a resurgent 2023 has him back on Boras’ radar, and the asking price is a doozy: a cool $200 million+, as reflected by insider extraordinaire Jon Heyman. The Cubs, initially smitten, are now doing the Boras two-step, their checkbooks wincing at the hefty sum. Could J.D. Martinez be the consolation prize in the Windy City if the Bellinger bonanza falls through?

Martinez’s Mid-Career Momentum: MLBTR paints a two-year, $40 million masterpiece for the revitalized Martinez, a bargain compared to some teammates’ astronomical asks. The Cubs haven’t given Martinez a second glance, but whispers suggest he’s Plan B if the MVP talks falter. Is Boras using him as leverage, pressuring the Cubs, or enticing others with the veteran’s late-career surge?

Ryu’s Riddle: Scott Boras keeps Hyun-Jin Ryu’s price tag under wraps, perhaps because the 36-year-old lefty’s injury history is a red flag the size of Texas. His 2019 magic is a distant memory, but a decent 2023 (38 SO in 52 IP) shows he’s still got some tricks up his sleeve. His next chapter hinges on a team willing to take a gamble on a seasoned arm with a few miles on it.

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Chapman’s Trade Tango: Traded mid-season, Matt Chapman’s bat stayed hot, making him a Boras client with swagger. MLBTR predicts a six-year, $150 million deal, but will a team take the plunge for a defensively shaky third baseman, even with his offensive fireworks?

Snell’s Celestial Curveball: Remember 2018’s Cy Young winner? Blake Snell’s fastball isn’t what it used to be, but Boras is pitching a 9 year, $270 million curveball that has most teams ducking for cover, according to Forbes. The talent is undeniable, but the price tag is heavier than a stone anvil.

Hoskins’s Home Run Heist: Coming off an ACL tear that stole his 2023 season, Rhys Hoskins is Boras’ wild card. Experts predict a two-year, $36 million deal, making him a potential bargain for a team needing some pop. The Cubs, with their Bellinger fixation, might only turn to Hoskins if the MVP talks stall.

Montgomery’s Bronx Boogie: The Bronx Bombers dealt Jordan Montgomery in 2022, only to watch him blossom for the St. Louis Cardinals. Boras wants a payday bigger than Aaron Nola’s $172 million, according to The Post. Will the Yankees swallow their pride and bring him back to the Bronx? Or will another team take a chance on the lefty’s steady arm?

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Looking at the state of the free agents in hand, one might be forced to ask—is Scott Boras the maestro of this slow-motion free-agency ballet or a flailing puppeteer? It’s a tangled tango, indeed. He has always been a master negotiator, squeezing every penny for his players, but in a cautious market, that strategy can backfire. Ultimately, the free agency freeze has turned out to be a two-step tango between Boras’ demands and the market’s willingness to pay.