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Boras corners Texas market
By Peter Gammons
Special to ESPN.com
DIAMOND NOTES: Feb. 9
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| A-Rod |
The Scott Boras hoodoo on Rangers owner Tom Hicks, who has nine Boras clients on his spring roster, has become a joke throughout the industry. A-Rod is as good a player as there is. Chan Ho Park is a good pitcher. But when Hicks gave former Clemson outfielder Patrick Boyd $600,000, it was suggested that Hicks start a comedy show on his network entitled, "How Scott Takes Tom Hicks' money." Boyd actually was a good prospect once ... in high school. He had two at-bats his senior year. He was a fourth-round pick as a junior, when one ACC coach said "everyone found out he couldn't hit a fastball." And Clemson, the No. 2 ranked team in the country going into this season, wouldn't have started him. Next, can Boras get Hicks to give Kenny Rogers a five-year, $90 million extension?
This is the way baseball works: James Orr left the Marlins front office last season to take a scouting job in Texas. In August, his wife became pregnant. Now he's out of a job. Oh, he gets paid until October, but without medical benefits. Maybe baseball should take some of the money it plans to use in legal fees to lose yet another attempt at a legal impasse and buy insurance for every little person who needs it. Just bring it to Jerry Reinsdorf's attention, because he is one man -- no matter how controversial -- who has always treated people well.
The Mets have pondered a Steve Trachsel-Rick Reed deal but may hold off, particularly considering the difference in money and the fact that Trachsel was a different person when he came back from his stint in the minors last season.
One of the first beneficiaries of Omar Minaya as GM in Montreal will be Fernando Tatis. Minaya was his sponsor in the Texas organization and is well aware of some of the issues that the talented young third baseman has had to deal with. There are a lot of people rooting for both.
Bob Apodaca, back in the Mets system after leaving the Brewers, has told the Mets front office that Jeff D'Amico's arm speed is the best it has been in two years (he was 12-7, 2.66 in 2000). So expect Bruce Chen to likely start the season in the bullpen.
John Henry and Larry Lucchino have been told they can't make changes with the Red Sox until they pass papers, which won't be until next week at the earliest. So, for the time being, GM Dan Duquette is not only in charge, but free to do what he and John Harrington think best, be it tinkering with the Rickey Henderson idea or whatever. Henry was able to bring in Louie Elauja and the Marlins international staff -- Boston was trying to hire Miguel Garcia for Venezuela before the sale -- and it likely means the end of Ray Poitevant and the club's intriguing Asian connection.
Tampa Bay owner Vince Naimoli scoffs at speculation that the Devil Rays will be contracted next winter. "We are not a candidate for contraction then or anytime," says Naimoli. He points out that his club was 19th in revenues last year, has had a positive cash flow the last two years, has pared the payroll down to $34 million ($18.5 million in present-day value go to Greg Vaughn, Wilson Alvarez, John Flaherty and Ben Grieve) and that ticket sales are decent.
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| Erickson |
Speaking of the Orioles and their bullpen behind their young starters, Mike Flanagan believes that by the time the season begins,
Scott Erickson will be the team's John Smoltz -- he'll move into the closer's role.
Oakland outfielder Eric Byrnes finished a tremendous season in the Dominican Republic and could become an important 2002 contributor. Byrnes is Pete Rose without the baggage. Two days after they had lost to the Yankees, Byrnes was in Arizona working on his leads preparing for winter ball.
Scouts and players who saw Brad Clontz in Puerto Rico say he threw the ball better than he ever has. He was signed by the Padres. Hipolito Pichardo has thrown well in the Dominican and has the Indians, Orioles and Rockies in pursuit of him.
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