Scott Boras still has two of the biggest free agents left unsigned. He’s now had his say on why finding fair deals has become so difficult.
Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso entered the offseason as two of the most highly anticipated free agents, both expected to land expensive long-term deals. However, with neither appearing close to signing as of January, those expectations are now in serious doubt.
Scott Boras Criticizes Teams for Lack of Spending
What did the players expect?
Bregman was predicted to sign a 7-year $182 million contract, according to MLBTR. It seems as though teams are hesitant to offer the 30-year-old such a long contract, despite Boras’s claims there is “substantial interest” in long-term deals. No one can doubt his credentials. A two-time All-Star and clubhouse leader, he remains well-respected despite his role in the 2017 scandal. Matt Chapman’s six-year, $151 million extension almost certainly sets the floor for Boras, especially since it removed the only other elite third baseman from the offseason market.
Many teams remain interested, mainly due to his willingness to move to second base. The Tigers, Red Sox, Astros, Blue Jays, and Yankees have all been mentioned over the past few months, but no single team has been considered the favorite. Ultimately it will come down to who is willing to give Bregman that extra year to set themselves apart.
Alonso feels like a different story entirely. He was predicted by MLBTR to sign a 5-year contract worth $125 million, but many publications expected this figure to be far higher. The market has never really materialized for Alonso, with a return to the Mets seeming like the only option, just on a reduced deal. The Mets are aware of this, too; many speculate this is the exact reason they’ve reportedly enquired about Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Putting pressure on Boras to accept what is already on the table.
The 30-year-old remains a constant 40-home-run threat, though he posted the worst statistical season of his career in 2024, finishing with a still-respectable .788 OPS. A shorter deal with opt-outs may make more sense for the 4-time all-star. An excellent 2025 could set him up to get his payday next offseason, similar to how Chapman did under Boras’s guide.
Why have their markets not materialized?
Scott Boras was open about why he felt these two haven’t got the deals they deserve. Firstly, the qualifying offer attached to both players will come with a cost. At least a second-round pick for any team that signs either player would be forfeited. Obviously, the Mets would not have to give this up for Alonso, perhaps a reason why they’re the favourites to resign him.
Boras goes on to express his main frustration that “you’re seeing so many teams that are actually not spending”. He is not wrong. Seven teams have increased their payroll by $10 million since last year, according to FanGraphs. He even goes further to say there are “as many as 10 to 12 teams” making more money but are “spending far less than they did two, three years ago”.
Why, though, is up for interpretation; Boras himself suggests that “the graduation of being an owner has a different definition that it did 10, 15 years ago, ironically because of the appreciation of the franchise value”. Boras isn’t wrong—franchises are increasingly operated like businesses. In baseball, the absence of a salary cap can highlight teams that are reluctant to spend. The Boston Red Sox, owned by Fenway Sports Group, serve as a prime example. FSG are the third most valuable sports group in the world and are worth over $12 billion. They’re a business running sports teams all over the world, not Red Sox superfans ready to throw money at players.
There’s more to this, though: love them or hate them, analytics are more involved than ever in free agency. Simply caring about the name Alex Bregman isn’t enough anymore. At age 30, when teams see signs of decline, they’re more unwilling to offer a longer-term deal. Despite a good 2024, Bregman’s walk rate halved, which can be seen as a sign of aging. Teams have better ways of patching holes these days, too; platoons, in particular, are ever present. Despite driving fans crazy, their field and payroll success is not doubted.
The ultimate truth
Ultimately, fans want big names. You want to buy a jersey knowing the name on your back will make sense for the next five years. Platoons are effective, but no fan chooses a jersey based on whether the opposing pitcher throws left or right handed. Not only that but sponsors also don’t think that way. Shohei Ohtani reportedly brought in over $70 million in new sponsorships for the Dodgers in 2024. Maybe you have to spend money to make money after all.
Main Photo Credits: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
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