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Baseball

Agent Boras Explains Disparity in Baseball's Free Agency

2024-12-11

The Arizona Diamondbacks entered the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings with little fanfare, yet the off-season has been far from quiet. As is often the case, their rivals have been making significant moves in the free agent market. The Los Angeles Dodgers, for instance, dumped a whopping $182 million on a five-year deal for Cy Young-winning lefty Blake Snell and an additional $17 million for a one-year signing of outfielder Michael Conforto, despite his subpar.237 batting average last season. But it's not just the Dodgers; the San Francisco Giants invested $182 million into seven years with shortstop Willy Adames. And the New York Mets, a perennial thorn in the Diamondbacks' side and a surging National League menace, landed the big fish when star outfielder Juan Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract to move from the Bronx to Queens. This contract even dwarfed Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million deal ahead of 2024, although the average annual value is slightly less.It does seem that the 2024 off-season has a different flavor. Contracts are increasing every year, and teams are spending more money, making these conversations louder. The market is seeing a significant amount of investment in players who may not be considered stars, while superstars are getting record-breaking deals. Renowned agent Scott Boras, a key figure in the free agency market, spoke about the market at the Winter Meetings. When asked why he thinks the market feels different in 2024, he said, "It brings a definition of resources for the teams. Media is more understood and defined as to what the plan will be ahead. I also think that expiring contracts sometimes in this market have a lot to do with it."Ultimately, it might come down to results. These results are being highlighted more, and it's becoming clear which types of players are conducive to winning. "The real lesson of this is that star-level players, playoff-caliber starting pitching, and power in the postseason are winning consistently," said Boras. "And those are the things the teams are pursuing with great aggression."D-backs fans often feel frustrated at the market. Many of the top free agents seem to be snatched up by the richest rival teams, especially the Dodgers. There are calls for a salary cap, fairness measures, and restrictions on deferred salaries, which the Dodgers (but not only the Dodgers) love to use. However, these measures are highly unlikely to happen, as players and the MLBPA have no reason to restrict their ability to make life-changing money.Boras believes that while there is disparity in MLB, it's a product of a healthy league. Even with measures to protect fairness, some teams will be more competitive in offering contracts. "Part of a sports league is disparity. There's always a Goliath and a David in a great sports league. And I don't care what league it is or whether you have salary caps or not; you start to see those things happen in sport, and it's always been that way," he said.This disparity comes from the rise in the value of the franchises themselves. As the clubs become more valuable, so do the players. "I've listened about market disparity and needs and such, but the one thing that's common is that every ownership that was bought for $100 or $200 million is now worth $2 to $3 billion. And I think that part of it is the greatest part of being part of a sports league. And the disparity part is just a competitive choice that you make while being in a league that is appreciating at dramatic levels," Boras said.Perhaps it is that simple. It's not just a matter of accepting the situation; it's about understanding the economics. The rise in contract values and the intensity with which clubs vie for players will benefit Boras and others in his profession. It's likely that these price tags will continue to increase. Notably, Boras represents Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, who is a free agent in 2026 and will have a major market ahead of him. He will likely benefit from the factors mentioned above. On a smaller scale, free agent first baseman and former Diamond-back Josh Bell is also represented by Boras. If Arizona wants to bring him back, it could cost a surprising amount. And left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who has parted ways with Boras, may have a larger market than expected. With starters like Matt Boyd signing deals worth up to $30 million over two years and other large deals, an MLB team might be more willing to absorb some of Montgomery's salary, even with his poor numbers.Regardless, for now, it seems that richer teams will continue to grab top-tier free agents. The Diamondbacks will have to rely on smart, role-filling moves, as they did in 2024, and hope to be the "David" that takes down the "Goliaths" when it matters most.