Scott Boras (72), the “super agent,” has great power. As three FA players have won better-than-expected jackpot contracts, shortstop Kim Ha-sung (29) has also started to gain positive energy.
Boras’ customer, FA right-hander Frankie Montas (31), was known to have agreed to a contract with the New York Mets on the 2nd (Korea Standard Time). According to local media, including ESPN, the contract between the Mets and Montas is a two-year total of $34 million, which includes opt-outs after next season. He will receive an annual salary of $17 million for two years.
The terms and conditions of the contract exceeded expectations. Major media outlets including MLB Trade Rumors and the New York Post projected the size of Montas’ free agent contract to be 22 million U.S. dollars for two years and 11 million dollars annually last month. However, the contract was 6 million dollars more than expected, and the Mets will be wearing the uniform.
Montas from the Dominican Republic made his debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2015 and went through the Oakland Athletics, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, recording 44 wins, 46 losses and 2 holds with an ERA of 4.09 strikeouts and 760 WHIPs in nine seasons.
However, he underwent shoulder surgery for the Yankees before the 2023 season and ended up playing in one game that year. Despite the risk of injury, he signed a 16-million-dollar free agent contract with Cincinnati last winter. He was traded to Milwaukee during the season at the end of July, recording 7 wins and 11 losses with an ERA of 4.84 strikeouts and 148 WHIPs. Although his performance was not remarkable, he was fine with four to five starts and received good treatment in the free agent market, where his starting pitcher became a gold medalist.
As a result, Boras gave three consecutive customers better-than-expected contracts in the FA market. The 33-year-old left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who signed a three-year, 63 million-dollar contract with the Los Angeles Angels on April 28, was the starting point. Kikuchi also expected a three-year, 60 million-dollar contract with MLBTR and the Athletic to a three-year, 42 million-dollar contract, but received an annual average of 21 million dollars.
Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell (32), and 토토사이트 꽁머니 who was officially announced on the 1st, also signed a five-year, $182 million contract. Snell also expected MLBTR to sign a five-year, $160 million contract for The Athletic to sign a three-year, $150 million contract, and the New York Post to sign a five-year, $160 million contract, but Boras signed the third-largest contract ever for a left-hander.
Both pitchers are left-handers who throw fastballs, which both have boosted their market value to the highest point in the second half. After being traded to the Houston Astros, Kikuchi dominated the league with five wins and one loss with a 2.70 strikeout and 76 WHIPs 0.93 in 10 games (60 innings), and Snell with five wins and a 1.45 strikeout and 103 WHIPs 0.85 in 12 games (68 ⅓ innings).
The Major League FA market is likely to be Boras’ stage in many ways this winter. Other players such as “biggest fish” outfielder Juan Soto (26), Cy Young Award pitcher Corbin Burns (30), rookie Pete Alonso (30), two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman (30) and Gold Glover shortstop Kim Ha-sung remain in the market as customers of Boras.
Attention is focusing on how Kim Ha-sung, who joined hands with Boras ahead of the FA, will be treated. Although he cannot play from the opening of next season because he is rehabilitating from shoulder surgery, Boras said at the general manager’s meeting last month, “Kim Ha-sung is receiving widespread attention. All teams know about his return date. I know it will be early in the season, if not the opening game. They have seen the medical report and are easily thinking about Kim Ha-sung’s condition.”
Due to the risk of injury, Kim Ha-sung’s expected FA contract size is not large. MLBTR is expected to pay 12 million dollars per year, New York Post is expected to pay 10 million dollars per year, and New York Post is expected to pay 20 million dollars per year. Most of them are expected to pay 10 million dollars per year on average for a short-term contract for one to two years. Although he is highly likely to choose to return to the FA as a one-year contract, Boras is expected to win a better contract than this.