• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Scott Boras Calls Out MLB Owners As Vlad Guerrero Jr. Faces Free Agency

After an extensive series of nine-figure player deals over the MLB offseason, there’s still an apparent disconnect from revenue in the eyes of some. 

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

MLB’s offseason hot-stove period, now giving way to spring training camps, contained plenty of big-dollar deals, and even a historic one with Juan Soto. In the eyes of some agents and stars, however, it’s still not enough. 

Scott Boras, agent to Soto and many other MLB players, lamented the spending patterns over the winter that still have left five clubs with sub-$100 million payrolls for the 2025 season according to current luxury tax calculations.

“You’ve got a number of teams that are spending below $100 million,” Boras said on the Foul Territory podcast.“Last year, there were six teams spending below $100 million, and the money they get from the general fund is above that.”

Boras particularly has been on the frontlines of the spending patterns. After initial success with Soto’s $765 million contract with the Mets, a $182 million pact for pitcher Blake Snell with the Dodgers, and another for $210 million between the Diamondbacks and pitcher Corbin Burnes, he later saw Alex Bregman and Pete Alonso sign for far smaller deals than first envisioned. 

It’s hardly a new scenario for Boras to push for MLB clubs to spend more on players. Rather, it’s been a big element of the mega-agent’s public profile for years. The roughly $330 million payroll gap between the ultra-powerful Dodgers and bottom-dwelling Marlins going into the new season, however, raises additional levels of questions about player spending. 

“It’s not small market–large market. It’s how much of your revenues are you spending on a 40-man roster to show your fans you’re committed,” Boras said.

Angst in Toronto

Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr., meanwhile, has formally turned down a contract extension offer that would have kept him in Toronto, and he is now set to become a free agent in November. The 25-year-old (who is represented by Magnus Sports, not the Boras Corporation) is poised to be one of the leading available players after the 2025 season, but he failed to find common ground in initial contract talks with the Blue Jays. 

“They have their numbers. I have my numbers,” Guerrero said Tuesday.

“I want to be here. I want to be a Blue Jay for the rest of my career. But it’s free agency. It’s business. So I’m going to have to listen to 29 more teams, and they’re going to have to compete for that,” he said. 

Toronto GM Ross Atkins, however, defended the team’s efforts.

“I am confident that we exhausted the communication, the ideas, the thoughts, and communicated every dollar,” he said. “The offers that we made for Vlad would have been record-setting and would’ve made him one of the highest-paid players in the game.”

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Breanna Stewart

WNBA Players Call League Proposal For Fixed Salary Cap Inadequate  

The league’s collective bargaining agreement expires in less than four months.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
exclusive

CBS, NFL Host James Brown Discussing Contract Extension

The 74-year-old Brown has hosted a record 10 Super Bowl pregame shows.
Jul 3, 2022; London, United Kingdom; Jannik Sinner (ITA) returns a shot during his match against Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) on day seven at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Wimbledon’s Expansion Battle Looms Over Star-Studded Quarterfinals

The expansion’s loudest opposition is Save Wimbledon Park.

Featured Today

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
July 3, 2025

Geoffrey Esper Can’t Catch a Break at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

“Hot dogs is not one of my favorite competitions of the year.”

How Bradley Beal Buyout Would Save Suns $230M, and What’s Next

Beal has two years and $110 million remaining on his deal.
July 6, 2025

WNBA All-Stars Will Earn $2,575 for Playing in Game

The WNBPA is in the midst of negotiations for a new CBA.
July 7, 2025

An FSU Amateur Golfer Beat the World’s Best—but Can’t Accept $79K Prize

Top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
July 6, 2025

Unrivaled Co-Founders Deny Conflict of Interest With WNBPA Leadership

The WNBA and its union are negotiating a new CBA.
exclusive
July 2, 2025

WNBA Players Reject League’s First CBA Offer

Players felt the initial proposal wasn’t “entirely responsive” to their request.
Nike banners featuring Caitlin Clark are installed along the eastern side of Des Moines' Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.
July 2, 2025

Caitlin Clark’s Signature Shoe Could Be $100 Million Business: Sneaker Expert

Clark’s shoe could rival top NBA signature lines.
July 2, 2025

As NBA Free Agency Quiets, Focus Shifts to Potential Extensions

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million extension.