LAS VEGAS — General managers’ meetings typically mark the official start of baseball’s offseason activities, but no offseason truly begins until baseball’s most prominent agent, Scott Borasstarts delivering his signature, but lame puns.
Lack of comedy aside, Boras once again represents some of the biggest free agent targets this offseason, including first baseman. Pete Alonsothird baseman Alex Bregmanright-handed Dylan Cease and left-handed Ranger Suarez.
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Things will likely be a little easier for Alonso and Bregman in this year’s market compared to last winter, when both were free agents but received qualifying offers that meant the team signing them had to forgo draft compensation.
Bregman showed how good he can be after a difficult 2024 season. During his first year with the Boston Red Soxhe carried a .273/.360/.462 slash line with 18 home runs, 28 doubles, and 62 RBIs, and continued to be an above-average third baseman. He was limited to 114 games due to a right quad injury that cost him nearly two months.
Outside of the Red Sox, teams like the Detroit Tigers And Chicago Cubs could use the three-time All-Star. Those clubs were finalists for Bregman last offseason before he signed a three-year, $120 million contract with the Red Sox that he opted out of earlier this month.
“Before 2025, Boston was the kind of club that had Dunkin well below the playoff line. I think it was a bad roast in Beantown,” Boras joked Wednesday. “Give credit to the owners in ’25, they went out and spent a few Star-bucks to bring in a Bregman blend that got them to the playoffs. I’m sure the Boston fans don’t want it to be a cup of coffee and no one wants a Breg-xit.”
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Alonso had arguably his best season since 2022 last season, hitting .272 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. He set career highs with 170 hits and 41 doubles.
Since 2019, Alonso’s 264 home runs are third in MLB, trailing only Aaron Judge, New York Yankees superstar and fellow free agent slugger Kyle Schwarber.
The team that stands out in Alonso’s market happens to be the Red Sox. Boston could use right-handed power and the powerful first baseman could thrive at Fenway Park.
“A parched playoff plethora will rush,” Boras said, “to participate in the Polar Plunge.”
japanese star Tatsuya I will post next week
One of Boras’ clients that will certainly spark interest is Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai. Boras confirmed that the Japanese phenom would be released on November 19, officially opening Imai’s 45-day window to negotiate with MLB teams. Imai, 27, is considered one of the best weapons available on the market this year and he has age on his side to potentially break the bank.
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The right-hander went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA in 24 starts for the Lions of Saitama Seibu of the NPB. Imai, who has played in Japan since 2017, has been one of the best pitchers in the world in recent seasons with an arsenal that includes a triple-digit fastball and slider.
One of Imai’s biggest advantages in this year’s market is that for teams looking to add starting pitchers, no qualifying offers are attached. Several of the best starters on the market, including Cease, Suárez, Framber Valdez, Zac Gallen, Michael King, Shota Imanaga And Brandon Woodruff all have OQs attached.
Boras on baseball betting
Boras took a more serious tone regarding the ongoing investigations in sports regarding sports betting. Sunday, the Cleveland Guardian pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz were indicted in federal court on sports betting conspiracy and money laundering charges, which included “rigged arguments” for co-conspirators.
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Ortiz pleaded not guilty in federal court Wednesday and Clase is expected to be arraigned Thursday. MLB announced Monday that its betting partners have agreed to limit betting on pitches to a limit of $200.
Boras said more needs to be done to protect the integrity of not only the players, but the sport itself.
“You have to remove these side bets to make sure the integrity of the players is not called into question,” Boras said. “Because there will now be all sorts of performance questions asked of pitchers and others when they throw certain pitches deep down, or depending on the situation, and really, we don’t want to be a part of that. We want the integrity of the players to never be questioned.”
