The Red Sox can celebrate their biggest off-the-diamond victory of spring training.
They have seen the enemy go down in flames.
It’s business, and the ultimate cutthroat businessman who served as the great tempter of talent, agent Scott Boras, has received his comeuppance from the man whom the Red Sox so long coveted.
Yes, Mark Teixeira has fired Boras. The whoop-ti-do of joy you heard was Red Sox ownership having a last laugh. It was Boras, after all, who had played John Henry for the fool and made Theo Epstein jump through hoops in the pursuit of Teixeira who almost signed with the Red Sox several seasons ago.
Sox owner Henry even flew across country to meet with the slugger, but Boras pulled the flying carpet out from under him. The Sox offer fell short by a bag of peanuts, and Boras used the leverage to win $180 million smackeroos from the Evil Empire over eight seasons, humiliating the Red Sox owners and fans.
Teixeira marched down the aisle of Yankee Stadium into the arms of the dreaded minion, Brian Cashman, for a barrel of cash. Whimpering loudly, the Red Sox cursed the name of Boras.
Dealing with Boras clients continued, but the bloom of Red Sox generosity seemed reluctantly given to players who used Boras soap. Among the dubious Red Sox signings with Boras have been Dice-K and Manny Ramirez.
Who is the biggest loser on the Red Sox? We have already seen what happens to Boras clients in Boston. Adrian Beltre had a great season, and Boras made noises that Beltre deserved Teixeira numbers on the payroll check, but instead, the third baseman wilted on the vine, one of the last free agent signings, and for less than expected. The Red Sox took a pass for non-Boras players.
Who can forget the Jason Varitek saga? He wanted $10 million for one season, what Boras convinced the catcher he was worth. Varitek was ignored by the Red Sox, and finally settled for half of what he wanted. This season he signed quietly, no Boras sightings or murmurings, for pennies on the dollar as a backup.
The other big Boras Boston boys are Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew. Disparaged and unloved by Red Sox Nation, Drew is widely thought to be overpaid as a result of a Boras negotiation.
When the Drew–Red Sox contract runs out, many think so too will Drew. Injuries have marred his Rex Sox tenure. If the hangnail hangs, Drew won’t play. Boras has been trying to build postseason interest in Drew with rumors of retirement unless he is paid well.
Last season some speculated the Jacoby Ellsbury’s ribs hurt more than Adam’s rib after the fall from grace.
Was it Boras who had him go West for rehab and advised him that playing for the Sox would hurt his career? Ellsbury lost the season, but his value was held hostage.
Waiting for the big bucks when he becomes eligible for free agent money, Ellsbury was dangled as a trade possibility all winter. Then, Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, who are not Boras clients, came up big winners.
Ellsbury, a West Coast lay-about, may think twice about keeping on the Boras Bandwagon if he wants to stay with the Red Sox beyond the next year or two.
Teixeira said business was business, and the time to divorce and to divest with his agent had come. “Sometimes business relationships just run their course,” stated Teixeira, refusing to give more details. Boras put Teixeira into the biggest contract at the time, and with a team where Boras promised more than the riches of the world, like a Biblical Satan. Now, the worm has turned. “The time has come to part,” said Teixeira.
The laughter you hear echoes around Fenway Park, from front office to behind the scoreboard. Scott Boras has had the House of Ruth fall on him.
Ding-dong, the Wicked Witch of the West is dead.
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