Werth hires Boras. What's the bigger picture?
Hours after hitting a walk-off home run to cap an incredible comeback by the Phillies, Jayson Werth hired Scott Boras as his new agent, a source confirmed.
Werth hires Boras. What's the bigger picture?
Matt Gelb
Hours after hitting a walk-off home run to cap an incredible comeback by the Phillies, Jayson Werth hired Scott Boras as his new agent, a source confirmed.
CSNPhilly.com was the first to report the move late Sunday night. Boras has not returned messages for comment. Werth has yet to file paperwork with the Players' Association to make the move official.
Of course, Boras' name needs little explanation. The superagent has negotiated some of the wealthiest deals in baseball history. In Philadelphia, he will forever be known for the J.D. Drew saga.
This time, Boras might actually be helping the Phillies. We'll explain later.
Werth began shopping for a new agent earlier in the season when he fired Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council. The 31-year-old outfielder figures to be a top commodity on the free-agent market along with Tampa Bay outfielder Carl Crawford.
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has never ruled out re-signing Werth but the two sides have had few negotiations, especially with Werth changing representation.
"Doesn't mean anything to me," Amaro said last week about Werth's agent shopping. "That's his issue. I don't have any problems with agents."
But the hiring of Boras will have a great effect on how the Phillies approach the Werth situation -- and this goes beyond whether they can sign him or not.
Because really, the Phillies face a near impossibility in signing Werth. The 2011 payroll already is approaching $150 million and that is with money committed to just 16 players.
Werth is likely due a massive deal on the market. He is posting career-high numbers in batting average and OPS. He leads the Phillies in slugging percentage.
"It will play itself out in the off-season," Amaro said last week.
So back to how Boras can help: With him in the fold, the Phillies are even more likely to offer Werth arbitration. Even before Boras entered the picture, this was a move the Phillies were likely to make. Now, it's a no-brainer.
Why does this matter? Werth will be a Type A free agent. If the Phillies offer arbitration and another team signs Werth, the Phillies will receive two compensatory draft picks, including a first-rounder from the team that signs Werth.
But there is occasional risk in offering arbitration. If Boras and Werth decide there isn't a team willing to offer the multi-year deal they will seek, they could accept the Phillies' offer for arbitration on a one-year deal. Boras could make that a very lucrative one-year deal through arbitration. Then, the Phillies would either have to make the expanded payroll work -- or more likely trade Werth away.
That's a hard scenario to envision. There appears to be a substantial market for Werth.
Generally, Boras clients have rejected arbitration offers with the hopes of landing a multi-year deal on the market. And generally, that has worked out.
The Phillies have had limited dealings with Boras since the Drew incident in 1997.
One case shows Boras' willingness to avoid accepting arbitration. Following the 2003 season, Kevin Millwood was a free agent and Boras initially rejected a three-year, $30 million deal from the Phillies, saying there were longer and more lucrative deals for Millwood on the market. Eventually, Millwood accepted arbitration and signed a one-year deal for $11 million.
Other than Werth, Ryan Madson is the lone player currently on the Phillies roster represented by Boras. He negotiated a three-year, $12 million deal for Madson before the 2009 season began.
The team tried to re-sign a Boras client, Kyle Lohse, following the 2007 season. The Phillies offered as three-year deal around $21 million. Boras rejected it. Lohse ended up signing with St. Louis for a one-year deal worth $4.25 million.
They battled with Boras in arbitration over Travis Lee's salary in the 2001 off-season. Boras lost that case. He was seeking $1.6 million. Lee was awarded $800,000.
commenting on @ed_M's note about the left-right component of the line-up next year without Werth...way too much is made over this. There will be 4 lefties (with D. Brown), 2 switch-hitters and 2 righties. The 2 switch-hitters (Rollins and Shane) hit much better from the right side anyway so the way I see it is that:
against lefties, they'll start 4 RH and 4 LH hitters, a perfect split
and against righties, they'll start 6 LH and 2 RH hitters.
Sounds great as far as I'm concerned. Thanks for the big hit yesterday, Jayson, and for the past 2 years as well, but no need to break the bank for this guy anymore.— advantasux- I like Werth. But, it seems that team needs will be for two or three relievers. JC is gone. Lidge, who knows if he will be well. Durbin might go too. Madson will be here and then who? Worley, will be competing for a 4th or 5th spot if Joe or Kyle decide to fall apart or go or are traded for some other pieces. Then too,will Dom ,Vic, and Raul be the OF that the Phils will and can depend upon? At least year, Werth can still batter away and aid the team as he has for the last two years.— Koons
Billingham - Blanton is signed for two more years after this season. And talking about salaries soming off is meaningless - the Phillies have about $140M in payroll committed to 16 players for 2011. The Phillies need to fill out the roster with 9 more players for about $9 million. Young players like Brown, Matthiason, Bastardo, will help with that number but the roster is basically set. Phillies need those three plus a couple Zagurski and/or Mayberry types to step it up and give roster some cheap depth. The well is dry for new revenue and Phillies are locked into Comcast for 6 more years.— bird11- Why would you keep Ibanez in the fold when Werth is 10 times more valuable. Everyone forgets that the number 5 hitter should be almost as much a threat to go long as the number 4. Werth does that and deserves the money. No it isn't a coincidence he is announcing the agent change now. HE's Putting the Phils one notice and he should as it is a business for them. Our getting 2 draft picks has little merit as that is always a pig in a poke anyway so why even worry about that. Seems to me adding seating to the Citizens Bank "band" box would be more sensible than letting a guy walk who is just gonna get better with time. Montgomery needs to remember when you play with the big boys you have to act like one.— Wally 24
- I can’t understand why everyone in Philly hates JD Drew and Boras. They told the Phils what it was going to take to sign Drew and the Phils picked him anyway. The following year the Phils picked Burrell and signed him for almost the same amount that Drew wanted. Boras is a good agent and he gets the most money for his clients.— EarlKeese
- The Phillies Management could careless if they have sellout or not. They only care is how much each player brings to their bottom-line. They are set for life with their golden parachutes upon retirement. Do you really think that they care about anyone but themselves? It strictly business and what have you done for lately, it is nothing personal.— jpelle36
- Phillies still haven't totally gotten rid of that small market mentality. Hence the trading of Cliff Lee, and the likliehood that we'll lose Werth.— CMI
- How can anybody complain that the Phillies have a small market mentality the have the 4th highest payroll. Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs are the only three higher. The Phillies spend for quality but don't have the Yankees and Red Sox TV revenue to just buy whoever they want. I wonder how many people who think raising ticket prices is the answer are season ticket holders.— bird11
- Did anyone really think we had a chance to resign Werth before this? Good luck batting .250 with the Mets or .260 with the Yanks next year Jason! Thanks for 2010, or as you will always refer to it: "the best statistical year of my career."— dragoon6
- Funny COSkier.
Red Sox need speed, power, hitting.....interesting players. He's a no brainer for them to drive up the price. He owes it to his family to cash in now.— Scholes - Werth will 32 next year, What team in their right mind would give Werth a 6 year contract? Oh! the Mets would be the only team crazy enough to make that move. The 2 Jason's could bookends on the Mets payroll.— jpelle36
- Werth just isn't worth the money. His performance is more negative than positive. Think of all the men he has left in scoring position, not just this year but last year as well. We already have an over priced 1st baseman and we don't need another one. Also, from what I have seen from Dominic Brown, I don't understand all the hype. He is just average to me.— eaglesman1
- I still think D. Brown will need another year in the minors to polish his game, especially defensively. Either Francisco is the five hitter usually, or Charlie might want to platoon him with Brown. I'm not crazy about either idea, so I would like to see another corner outfielder signed to hit in the five spot. Brown will be ready to assume Left field in 2012. It would be great if ownership said, hey no problem, we'll just re-sign Werth-it. (VERY wishful thinking!) And really, if you give ME a shot at the kind of money he'll be able to command, I'd be outta here!— TBear
- doc35 - idk what year you are talking about but $12 million a year would be ahome team discount. Werth will sign for around $14 mil a season. The phillies cannot play Brown and Ibanez. Way to many left handed hitters in the line-up.— ccheung
- Will miss Jayson but he will be someone else's overpriced contract next year. It's supposed to be a good year for draft talent so we should cash in with more young talent in the system. Sign or trade for a RH OFer to plug into a 4 or 5 man outfield to keep everybody (Ibanez,Brown) fresh and productive. It will be all good as long as we can keep the Big Three starters.— Rick Wise Guy
