Brave men take risks, but smart men reduce the riskiness of that situation. Scott Boras is certainly brave, and he is, without a doubt, very smart. But this time, he’s playing with fire that could very well burn the sheen of his clients, Jordan Montgomery and Blake Snell. Spring Training is right around the corner, yet these two remain unsigned. While this is a normal story for Boras, there’s a reason why one should worry about Monty and Snellzilla.

The fact that the two biggest pitching agents are still unsigned is absurd, but what’s more eyebrow-raising is that they aren’t any closer to a deal even now. Day by day, chances of them missing the Spring Training grow stronger and that could be a major impediment for these two pitchers.

Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery – The contrasting tales of the aces

The stories of Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery can’t be more different. Snell has suffered because of high contract expectations and a thin market. Monty, on the other hand, has an abundance of suitors, but the one he allegedly wants isn’t in a position to make an offer. So, in the end, both of them are waiting patiently for a suitor to come and sway them off their feet. The issue? Time is running out quickly. 

As MLB Network reported, Pitchers and Catchers Spring Training is about to start from February 14 – a mere two and a half weeks from now. With the pace that Snell and Monty’s free agencies have gone, there’s a chance that these two could miss those dates. Jeff Passan of ESPN shared a few days ago that “none of the four (Boras clients) is likely to sign before the calendar turns to February”

Boras’ strategy to wait till the last minute is in works here as well. But unlike Bryce Harper, his current clients aren’t creating a frenzy for them in the market. Though this wait could create an urgency in many teams, this could also impede the development of Snell and Monty’s chemistry with their new teams. 

Why Scott Boras needs to hurry?

The symbiotic relationship between pitchers and catchers requires them to spend more time together. Missing out on this could decrease the quality of their performance and this is something that Boras might not want to risk. Though getting a big deal remains the primary focus of Boras, he needs to ensure that it doesn’t come in the way of his clients’ quality.

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Last season his client Carlos Rodon fell hard after a $162 million deal, Boras wouldn’t want something similar to happen again. But the more his players miss Spring Training, the more the risk of low-performance. However, both Snell and Montgomery are highly experienced pitchers and can probably cope with the delay. Is it a risk worth taking? That’s the question that Boras will have to answer soon. 

Read more: MLB Updates: Crucial Reason Behind New York Yankees’ Blake Snell Reluctance Revealed, Weeks After $150 Million Snub