Scott Boras Set for a 2018 Repeat This Off-Season, Should Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell Worry?

History does repeat itself, but at the most inopportune of times. One wants happy times to return, but sometimes struggles make a re-entry into one’s life. Scott Boras must be wondering the same thing. The architect of some of the biggest deals in baseball history is unable to find a great deal for his clients Cody Bellinger, Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell, and Matt Chapman. But most importantly, this is a story he has already lived once in 2018.

Ever since the offseason began, there were a few rumblings regarding the lower-than-expected quality of the free agent market. The sluggish market reflected these uncertainties, yet there’s no room for doubt for Boras’ four clients—all of them clinched victories in 2023. So why are they still unable to find a perfect spot for themselves? Is there a Boras masterclass at play here?

Could the struggle of Scott Boras spill trouble for Cody Bellinger and Blake Snell?

Jeff Passan of ESPN recently pointed out the similarity between 2018 and 2024 for Scott Boras. Like 2024, Scott Boras started 2018 with four of the best clients in the market. The issue? They were not getting the deal that they desired. Sounds familiar, right? The only difference, however, was the fact that while 2018 was genuinely slow, his clients in 2024 have garnered a lot of interest from the market.

But as Passan said, “All the teams are waiting for prices to drop, which they almost inevitably do.” This has been the story of Bellinger and Snell’s free agency since the beginning. Despite having teams like the San Francisco Giants, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Los Angeles Angels, the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees in the mix, the activity has been low because of the high price demanded by Boras. 

While Bellinger expects over $200 million, Snell’s expectations have reached $270 million. Even Jordan Montgomery is expecting a contract in high triple figures. What if these prices drop? Well, the obvious conclusion would be a bidding war and perhaps that’s what Boras is aiming for as well. 

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Only Boras’ strategy looks to be elongating the play until desperation comes into play. Once that happens, it’s game on for the superagent.

Is desperation the ultimate weapon of the superagent

Passan noted that the impetuousness of owners is Boras’ ultimate strength. This could come into play here as well. Slowly, as we are inching closer to the Spring Training, teams that haven’t made a killer signing would only grow more desperate. With pressure mounting over the owners, there’s a chance that they’ll be ready to pay big for Bellinger and Snell.

A bidding war presents the optimal opportunity for securing a substantial deal. But there’s something that is even better – ‘a desperate bidding war’. That has no limits. Could Boras be aiming for that? Could that be the ultimate weapon in the super agent’s arsenal? 

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