Ever since word started to circulate about how special Stephen Strasburg seemed to be, everyone wondered just how agent Scott Boras was going to bend the system to get the most for his client. Boras himself said that Strasburg is unique the day after the draft, but further proof came along Tuesday. Ben McDonald, the former No. 1 pick and phenom, told the Washington Post that he's talked to Boras -- his former agent -- about Strasburg."He just told me that he's got a special kid, reminds him of myself a little bit, and they're going to do something 'unusual.' But that's all he told me. I don't know what he's got cooked up."Makes you wonder just what that is. Could Boras seriously be considering having Strasburg play in Japan in order to wangle his way to major league free agency in 2010? Maybe he'll have Strasburg renounce his citizenship and move to Tibet.
Anyway, whatever ends up happening with Strasburg short of signing with the Nationals -- and the guess here is that he is going to sign just before the Aug. 17 deadline for around $15 million -- folks are certain to start decrying how evil Boras is for manipulating Strasburg's career for his personal gain.
Well, in the same Washington Post item, McDonald gives us a little insight on Boras. He said that during his negotiations with the Orioles 20 years ago, Boras always remembered who was the boss.
"Scott always said, at any point in time, you wanna play ball, we'll just end this thing," McDonald recalled. "Any point you just can't take it any more, we'll just go do it. But I never got to that point. People try to portray about Scott Boras like he's this greedy, money-hungry kind of guy. He always remembers that it's the player's career. But he was always saying, Hey, here is where I think the negotiations should go, and here is why."
