Scott Boras Does it Again

Scott Boras

Never doubt Scott Boras.

That’s the lesson that must be learned after Boras got his client, Prince Fielder, a nine-year contract from the Detroit Tigers worth $214 million. This deal is classic Boras.

In recent weeks, there were whispers that maybe Boras was losing his magic touch. After all, he had the biggest bat on the free agent market outside of Albert Pujols and had not been able to land that big money deal that he had talked about when free agency opened for business a couple of months ago.

There was a theory making the rounds that Fielder would have to take a short-term deal and try his luck on the open market again in a few years. There didn’t seem to be many teams willing to take a chance on the slugger. There was even speculation that the Milwaukee Brewers could somehow bring him back (which was something that was never going to happen).

And while all of this was happening, there was nothing coming from the Boras/Fielder side of things. There were no planted stories. There were no interviews given by Boras on the lack of a market developing for his client. Instead there was silence followed by the bombshell that was dropped yesterday with the news that the Tigers had landed Fielder, bringing him to the city where his father Cecil made his mark as a slugger in the 1990’s.

It was, like I said before, classic Boras. He worked behind the scenes to get the deal done. He did it on his timetable. He let it play out. And he got the deal he was looking for in November (a deal that averages over $23 million per season).

This deal is a win-win for everyone involved. It makes a winner out of Boras because he got his client the kind of deal he wanted. He got Fielder the kind of deal that many around the game thought he would not be able to get. He proved that at the end of the day, with apologies to rival agent Dan Lozano, Boras is still the best in the business.

The deal makes Fielder a winner because, simply put, he cashes in. Fielder has always been motivated by what happened with his father. In case you forgot, Cecil Fielder made a nice chunk of change when he played, but because of gambling issues, he blew most of his fortune. Prince Fielder always said he would never do what his father did. He wanted to make sure that he got what he thought he was worth and he wanted to make sure that his family would never have to worry about money. The younger Fielder accomplished all of that just by agreeing to this megadeal in Detroit.

The Tigers are also winners. First of all, it brings Fielder to Detroit, where his father’s name still carries a lot of clout. Fielder also will make the loss of Victor Martinez (torn ACL, likely to miss all of 2012) hurt a little less. Fielder is one of the top-five sluggers in the game. And putting him in the same lineup as Miguel Cabrera is simply going to be a nightmare for other teams in the American League. The Tigers were already good (remember they also have this pitcher named Verlander – maybe you’ve heard of him?). With Fielder in the lineup they are the class of the American League Central. With everything the Tigers have they could wind up being the class of the entire American League.

This deal is not without risks. Fielder will be 28 this coming May and will be 37 by the time the deal comes to an end. Given his weight, there is good reason to question whether or not giving him this large of a contract is wise. Given the fact that he isn’t the greatest defensive first baseman we’ve ever seen, there is good reason to question whether or not the Tigers were smart to extend themselves the way they have.

But no one in Detroit is thinking about those risks at the moment. You have to figure that Fielder will live up to his end of the deal for – at least – the first five years of the contract (just like a certain slugger that the Los Angeles Angels signed earlier this off-season).

Is it likely that Fielder’s weight will become an issue at some point? Yes, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. But, if you look at his body of work since he became a full-time Major Leaguer (beginning with the 2006 season), you will find that Fielder has been more durable than you would have thought considering his build. He has a track record of being durable.

As far as his defense goes, well, he’s never going to be known as a defensive whiz. But he’s not nearly as bad as some would have you believe. He might not be a Gold Glove candidate, but he is adequate.

And even if his weight and defense become factors towards the back half of this contract, the Tigers can simply move him to the DH spot. That should save wear and tear on his body. That should make his defense a non-issue.

At the end of the day, Fielder got what he wanted. The Tigers got what they wanted. Boras got what he wanted. Boras got what many thought he would not be able to get. And what did we learn after all is said and done?

Never doubt Scott Boras.