Attention everyone: an important free agent has signed in major baseball. And we're talking about a client of Scott Boras.
I feel like Michael Scott right now. Those who have listened to The Office will have the reference.
Cody Bellinger, one of the best hitters on the free agent market this year, will finally return to the Chicago Cubs.
He signed a three-year contract valued at $80 million.
But does this definitely mean that the versatile outfielder and first baseman will spend the next three seasons in Chicago? Not necessarily.
In fact, Scott Boras arranged to negotiate an exit option after the first year AND after the second year of the agreement.
He will earn $30 million in 2024 and if he stays, he will also earn $30 million in 2025. If he does not use his last exit option, that is for the 2026 season, he will earn $20 million.
Translation? If he has a good 2024 season, he will use his exit option to try to break the bank again in a year, which was not successful this year.
In fact, Boras failed to sign Bellinger to the contract he deserved/wanted during the off-season. He therefore takes the bet that in a year, it will be better for the outfielder.
The Cubs win in the sense that Bellinger is back with them. This is what everyone around the club wanted.
But Bellinger will be able to return to the market in a year.
Remember that last year, Bellinger signed a one-year contract with a one-year option (rejected) with the Cubs.
Boras insisted on such a contract, so that he would rebuild his value after difficult years under the colors of the Dodgers, who had cut him one year from the projected autonomy.
But there, Boras did not succeed in his mandate. Bellinger fulfilled his part of the deal by playing well, but the agent didn't do his.
If Bellinger has a good season, in a year he will probably be a free agent for a third winter in a row. Will he finally hit the jackpot?
Bellinger's contract is reminiscent of Carlos Correa's two years ago. He couldn't sign for his fair value and so he took a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Twins.
He had exit options, took the first one… and he had a crazy winter before returning to the Twins. #Giants #Mets
Does Boras tell himself that sometimes he won't get what he wants the first time and tells himself that situations like Bellinger and Correa are normal since he doesn't hit for 1,000? Certainly.
I don't see him changing his approach.
Next year, Bellinger will therefore potentially be a free agent at the same time as Juan Soto and Pete Alonso, two clients of Scott Boras.
The next step? Signing Jordan Montgomery, Matt Chapman, Blake Snell and JD Martinez, who are still waiting.
The agent's winter is (really) not over.
- Kiké Hernandez: it would be played between the Twins, the Angels, the Padres and the Giants.
- The A's and the mayor of Oakland have only spoken once in their lifetime. Wow.
