 Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The Boras That Stole Christmas
Christmas came and went without the signing of Scott Boras' superstar free agent client, Barry Zito. Mets fans like Steve, Linda, her Mom, and others will have to wait a little longer than hoped.
Here's why: Boras is notorious at getting and maintaining leverage for his clients. Just ask the Red Sox. As their plane was going back to Boston, Boras was still negotiating Matsuzaka's terms with Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. By the end of the negotiations, Epstein aged about ten years and looked as though he had seen a ghost. He did, it was Scott Boras, the Ghost of Free Agent Greed.
Where Do We Go From Here: Expect Boras to tighten the screws even harder on the Mets, Rangers, and other Zito suitors. That's his job and he does it better than anyone else in the world.
I don't even expect Zito to be signed by Old Calendar Christmas, January 7. I expect Zito to be signed as close as possible to Pitchers and Catchers which is just after my least favorite "holiday", "Saint" Valentine's Day. Expect more from the Tank as we get closer to February 14.
Anyway, enough about "Hallmark Holidays" and let's get down to the important stuff. I give the Mets the edge for the following reasons:
(1) They are a contender as the Rangers are not quite there yet. The Mets were one strike from the World Series and the Rangers didn't even make the playoffs.
(2) Zito will be reunited with his former pitching coach, Rick Peterson. Shea Stadium is much more pitcher friendly than the Launching Pad at Arlington.
(3) Texas has an 11 percent state income tax edge as NY has 7 percent state and 4 percent local tax. However, Zito will be able to up the difference in endorsements in the nation's biggest media market.
Word to the wise Mets fan: Be patient and keep the faith. Boras wants top dollar but he is not foolish enough to walk away from a "bad" deal that makes him and Zito millions. If Omar Minaya makes a competitive offer, Zito will most likely sign with the Mets.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
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