Scott Boras, renowned for being one of baseball’s most influential agents, faced a significant setback this 2023-24 MLB offseason. His struggles culminated in losing Jordan Montgomery as a client, who has now signed with Joel Wolfe and Nick Chanock of the Wasserman agency, as reported by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.
Montgomery, currently with the Arizona Diamondbacks, was notably one of four prominent Boras clients demanding nine-figure contracts last offseason. However, he, along with Cody Bellinger of the Chicago Cubs, and Blake Snell and Matt Chapman of the San Francisco Giants, ended up signing “prove-it” deals well into late February.
Montgomery’s case was particularly significant for Boras. After a standout season with the Texas Rangers, acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals at the trade deadline, Montgomery played a key role in the Rangers’ World Series campaign. FanGraphs had projected a potential five-year, $105 million contract for him, but Boras’s request for at least $170 million resulted in a stalled market.
Ultimately, Montgomery signed a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks just two days before the domestic Opening Day of MLB. The delay in signing meant Montgomery hasn’t appeared in any MLB games this season, though he recently made a start at Triple-A Reno in preparation for his Arizona debut. His contract also stipulates that he must make at least 10 MLB starts to opt out and re-enter the market next offseason.
This series of events reflects poorly on Boras, whose hard-nosed approach to free agency continues to polarize opinions within baseball. Although Boras will miss out on the potential benefits of Montgomery’s next deal, he remains a key player in the industry with other high-profile clients like Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Corbin Burnes potentially entering free agency.