Agent Scott Boras laid out his case for why pitcher Tarik Skubal is worth a historic payday, telling reporters in Las Vegas on Wednesday that elite aces of his caliber have a direct, calculable link to World Series championships.
“If we look over a 30- or 40-year period, we might have 10 of these aces that are capable of winning multiple Cy Young Awards,” Boras said, pointing to pitchers such as Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson and Max Scherzer who also won World Series titles. “What that means is it has an ability to allow a franchise to win a coveted world championship.”
“The math on it is something in the sport that is so high that all of these types of unique talents bring you that opportunity over a period of time,” he added.
Skubal, a left-hander, is set to meet with the Mets and other teams next week in Southern California as he weighs offers that could surpass the $325 million deal pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers three years ago — currently the richest contract for a pitcher in major league history.
Asked whether he sees the Mets as especially motivated buyers this winter, Boras demurred on specifics but suggested the league is full of teams eager to close the gap. “That would be a question for them, but I think there are a lot of unfulfilled expectations in this league,” he said. “There are teams that are really close.”
The Soto Precedent
Boras drew a comparison to another of his clients, Juan Soto, who signed a record $765 million, 15-year deal with the Mets two years ago.
“The one thing that Soto does is you walk in and say, ‘I have got someone that has got a ring on his finger,'” Boras said. “‘I have got someone who has proven himself to be a champion. I have got someone that in a championship performance, when most required, he is at his best. I have someone who is an elite talent. … I have someone that everyone else would like to acquire.’ If you have someone who has that résumé, I would say I would do that a number of times.”
Vientos’ Mets Future Uncertain
Separately, the Mets are weighing what to do with infielder Mark Vientos as the deadline approaches for teams to tender contracts to arbitration-eligible players. Vientos posted a .652 OPS last season and ranked among the league’s weakest defenders by most metrics.
“He didn’t have the season we think he’s capable of having,” said David Stearns, the Mets’ president of baseball operations. “He’s going into the offseason as a really motivated player, and that is what came out of our exit meetings with him. This is someone who is very motivated to get his career back where it was a couple of years ago, and if he’s able to do that, he’s going to have an opportunity with us.”
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