Scott Boras Rips the Ricketts Family and Other Bullets

scott borasDid you miss the latest episode of the BN Podcast yesterday, what with the deluge of rumors? If so, check it out.

  • Scott Boras is angry that the Chicago Cubs aren’t spending a lot of money these days on free agents. Imagine that. He took to the media yesterday, as he has in the past, to rip the Ricketts Family for failing to spend like a big market during the current rebuild. Among his comments, which you can see here and here, Boras questioned why a family-owned team in a major market isn’t acting like a major market, and said that fans don’t come out to see cement. They come to see players, Boras said. He added: “I don’t know what the plans are for the family. I don’t know what their scaling is. I only know that their general managers tell us that their budget only allows them to do certain things.” The whole thing makes me shrug. There’s nothing there that we didn’t already know, and nothing there that doesn’t square with The Plan. Boras has a job to do, and it’s to get as much money as possible for his clients, and it’s to get his name and face out there in the act of “fighting for his clients.” That’s really all this is. It’s not as if his grousing is going to suddenly push the Ricketts Family to spend more out of pocket, or push fans to rail against ownership (unless they were already disposed to do so). If payroll isn’t increasing by the time the Cubs’ young talent is emerging on the roster – i.e., within a season or two – then it will be fair to grumble.
  • The Cubs have a couple AA All-Stars, according to MiLB and Topps, and they might not be the guys you think: it’s infielders Arismendy Alcantara and Christian Villanueva. Presumably, Javier Baez didn’t have enough time in AA to qualify. And, if you’re wondering how Kyle Hendricks didn’t make the cut, it’s because only one pitcher was selected. And it was Archie Bradley, so no hard feelings.
  • Sahadev Sharma takes a deep look at the man of the hour, Kris Bryant. So many good quotes. Bryant is a guy who is focused on the process, not the results, which is a mature and useful mindset for the long-term. Give it a read.
  • That didn’t last long. Not an hour after writing yesterday about Mark DeRosa’s retirement and the possibility then that he could be available to join the WGN radio booth, he was hired by MLB Network. He apparently also said in a later interview that he was never considering the WGN radio gig. Whatever, man. We didn’t want you anyway. *muffled sobs*
  • Jed Hoyer compliments managerial interviewee Dave Martinez.
  • The New York Post ranks MLB’s best “GMs” (it’s not actually GMs, it’s top baseball executives – so Theo Epstein qualified, but Jed Hoyer did not), and Epstein came in at number seven. He was behind, in ascending order: Brian Cashman, John Mozeliak, Dave Dombrowski, Jon Daniels, Billy Beane, and Andrew Friedman.
  • Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer won the Cy Young awards this year, in what turned out to be a laugher in each case. You can see the NL votes here, and the AL votes here. Yu Darvish and Adam Wainwright were the runners up.
  • Derrek Lee is coming to the Cubs Convention this year.
  • A profile on Wes Darvill, the least-discussed Cubs player in the AFL.
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

    Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

    Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

    I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

    Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

    Why Craig Counsell Wanted Miles Mastrobuoni on the Cubs’ Bench

    I don't know why Miles Mastrobuoni bugs some folks, but it's probably heavily-weighted toward his small-sample, bad-batted-ball-luck start last year, and that time he didn't dive while playing in right field. It can be hard to shake initial impressions, I...

    Kinda Sounds Like Craig Counsell May Have a Set Top Three in the Batting Order

    New Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell has said, generally, his batting order philosophy is the very simplistic (and very correct): just get your best hitters the most at bats. Sure, there's some play in that to set up good match-ups,...

    Los Angeles Dodgers Signing Will Smith to a TEN-YEAR Extension

    The Los Angeles Dodgers have done it again. And by it, I mean they have signed a funkily-structured contract that is going to leave some folks annoyed. The Dodgers are extending catcher Will Smith on a DECADE-long deal with a...

    Latest News

    Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Los Angeles Chargers enter the offseason with a new era dawning. After a disappointing season, they landed a marquee hire in Jim Harbaugh, fresh off his national championship win with Michigan. Hailed as the top coaching prospect, Harbaugh brings a...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    Rangers vs. Cubs Probable Starting Pitchers – March 28

    The Texas Rangers (0-0) and the Chicago Cubs (0-0) square off on Thursday at Globe Life Field for Opening Day. First pitch is at 7:35 PM ET.The Rangers will call on Nathan Eovaldi against the Cubs and Justin Steele.Rangers vs....

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – March 28, 2024

    The Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks take the court for one of two exciting matchups on the NBA slate today.Looking for NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article includes NBA player props for every matchup, so take...

    UNC vs Alabama Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    We have a great matchup in the Sweet 16 between (1) North Carolina and (4) Alabama. Let's break down the odds, ATS records, and more for UNC vs Alabama as March Madness continues. Read More: Today's schedule and upset picks...

    Seattle Seahawks Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Seattle Seahawks turn the page on a historic era as they enter the 2024 season without Pete Carroll at the helm for the first time since 2010. Carroll's impact on the franchise is undeniable, crafting a period of sustained...

    Who Is In The Sweet 16? Updated Bracket, Odds to Win, and More

    It has been a great March Madness so far and we have more great matchups in the Sweet 16. Check out what teams are in the Sweet 16, odds, and more as the college basketball season rolls on. Latest March...

    Today’s March Madness Schedule: Updated Bracket, TV Channels for Every Game

    The Sweet 16 is here as March Madness brings us some great matchups tonight! Check out today's March Madness schedule along with game times, TV channels, and more as the college basketball season's biggest games continue. The Sweet 16 Begins...

    2024 MLB Mock Draft: Opening Day Mock Draft Projections

    Happy Opening Day! As the new baseball season begins, and hope is present among most fanbases, why not take a look at a new 2024 MLB Mock Draft? Various mock drafts meticulously analyze potential picks, emphasizing the abundance of talent...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    more cubs news