But the Sox yesterday differed with Boras about several elements of the historical record.
Yes, Sox principal owner John W. Henry acknowledged, the Marlins signed Johnson, then a 29-year-old catcher, to a five-year, $35 million deal as the market surged to an unprecedented level in December 2000 (it was the same month the Rangers signed Alex Rodriguez for $252 million over 10 years and the Sox signed Manny Ramirez for $160 million over eight years). Johnson received no-trade protection for four years with a provision that called for his salary to rise to $10 million from $9 million in the fifth year if he were traded.
But Henry said Dave Dombrowski, his general manager at the time, handled Johnson's deal.
"I don't make offers to players," Henry said. "I never have. I made an exception once [last year] with Alex Rodriguez due to proximity and a comfort with one another. And in that case I was carrying [general manager Theo Epstein's] proposal -- not mine."
Henry said the Red Sox "have certain policies I support," referring to a prohibition against full no-trade clauses and an informal policy against contracts exceeding four years.
"It is my strong desire and hope that Theo and Scott can work together to keep Jason in a Red Sox uniform," Henry said. "I believe it is important for the club and for Jason. However, just as was the case with Alex Rodriguez a year ago, we will only go so far."
In other words, don't expect the Sox to bend easily -- or perhaps at all -- in their stance against full no-trade clauses and contracts spanning five years or longer. Henry asserted baseball's economic landscape has changed since he owned the Marlins (they gave outfielder Preston Wilson a five-year, $32 million contract in 2001), despite Boras's view.
"The market Dave Dombrowski operated in at that time was quite different from the market that exists today," Henry said. "But we've found it hard to convince some that we aren't still at the top of the market."
The Sox also would like to convince Boras he was mistaken about saying the team's president and CEO, Larry Lucchino, gave long-term deals with no-trade clauses to Nevin and Klesko when he ran the Padres.
Epstein diplomatically addressed the issue after he renewed negotiations yesterday with Boras regarding Varitek.
