Boras met with Epstein last night at the general managers’ meetings, and it is likely that Holliday’s name came up. Epstein has said that while he wants to pursue a deal with Bay, he won’t limit himself exclusively to negotiating with Bay in case it doesn’t work out. So Boras came calling for the usual introductory meeting about a major player.
Question is, what will the relationship be between Boras and the Red Sox after last season’s failed attempt to land Teixeira? Those talks seemed to turn sour when Sox owner John Henry indicated after a meeting with Teixeira in Dallas that Boras’s demands were too rich. President/CEO Larry Lucchino also might have said some things to disturb Teixeira.
“I would say that the Boston Red Sox had a chance to sign Mark Teixeira before the New York Yankees did because we gave them an offer,’’ Boras said. “That’s the best I can do for owners when you give them a chance to sign a player. The player was earnest in coming there at the time and he presented them with [a proposal] and they could have accepted it.’’
And we know the rest of the story. Teixeira signed with the Yankees and went on to have a great year as New York won the World Series.
But business is business. And bad feelings don’t last long. The Sox have negotiated many other contracts with Boras with no problems to speak of, so a new day, a new player, a new offseason, should wipe the slate clean. The Sox may have a huge need for Holliday if Bay signs elsewhere, so they have to be all ears.
When Boras was told that Bay’s agent, Joe Urbon, said Bay was the most complete player in free agency, Boras said, “I don’t know what criteria he’s looking at, and that’s fine. All I can tell you is I’ve been around baseball a long time and the reality is that Matt Holliday is a complete player.’’
But what about Holliday’s slow start with the A’s this season before being traded to the Cardinals, which has led some to speculate that the 29-year-old is best suited for the National League?
Holliday hit .286 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs in 93 games with Oakland, then hit .353 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 63 games with St. Louis.
