Who's Calling The Shots?
Baseball America|December 2019
Gerrit Cole—and not agent Scott Boras— will steer his free agent odyssey
Who's Calling The Shots?

As soon as the World Series ended, the speculation began that agent Scott Boras was going to take free-agent right-hander Gerrit Cole to the free-agent market with dollar signs dancing in his head.

Now, Boras has earned his reputation for his willingness to shop his client, looking for the highest bidder, but that’s only because the clients allow it to happen.

Cole isn’t one of them. He’s not one of the sheep following the shepherd.

It is rare, but when Boras clients take charge, Boras is wise enough to get out of the way.

Heck, he did it with Cole when Cole came out of high school in Southern California. The Yankees drafted him 28th overall in 2008 out of Orange Lutheran High, thinking they could persuade him to sign even while other teams were scared off because of Cole’s expressed commitment to take the scholarship he was offered by UCLA.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Baseball America.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Baseball America.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BASEBALL AMERICAView All
THE SERVICE TIME CONUNDRUM
Baseball America

THE SERVICE TIME CONUNDRUM

MLB’s byzantine service time rules cloud rookie status and now PPI eligibility

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
LUIS TIANT WAS MLB'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CUBAN PITCHER
Baseball America

LUIS TIANT WAS MLB'S MOST SUCCESSFUL CUBAN PITCHER

On a scouting trip to Cuba in 1957, Bobby Avila discovered 16-year-old righthander Luis Tiant on the island's Juvenile League all-star team.

time-read
1 min  |
November 2024
ORGANIZATION REPORT
Baseball America

ORGANIZATION REPORT

Outfielder Heston Kjerstad's career has been unique, to say the least.

time-read
7 mins  |
November 2024
TOP 10 NL EAST
Baseball America

TOP 10 NL EAST

From the moment Thomas White stepped on a high school mound, he was viewed as the top lefthander available in the 2023 draft.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
PREPARATION PAYS OFF
Baseball America

PREPARATION PAYS OFF

lowa politician J.D. Scholten makes a surprising return to pro ball at age 44

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2024
MAKING THE GRADE
Baseball America

MAKING THE GRADE

Assessing the future value of graduated National League prospects

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
TOP 10 NL WEST
Baseball America

TOP 10 NL WEST

Even in high school, Bryce Eldridge could hit the ball a mile. The 6-foot-7 righthander could also touch 96 mph off the mound.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 2024
Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.
Baseball America

Wood Has Towering Upside- Nationals rookie James Wood also stands 6-foot-7 and also has game-changing power.

Aaron Judge and Oneil Cruz are 6-foot7 sluggers who stand out for their power in this year’s MLB Best Tools voting. Wood spent half of this season with Triple-A Rochester before making his MLB debut on July 1. While he was in the International League, he captured managers’ attention. Wood unanimously won Best Power Prospect and also claimed Most Exciting Player in a survey of league skippers. Wood hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games for Rochester. His .242 isolated slugging was the best for a player 21 or younger at Triple-A this season.

time-read
2 mins  |
August/September 2024
ROAD BLOCK?
Baseball America

ROAD BLOCK?

Scholarship expansion puts mid-majors at a major disadvantage on the road to Omaha

time-read
4 mins  |
August/September 2024
ROYALS REVIVAL
Baseball America

ROYALS REVIVAL

A revamped and rejuvenated farm system has Kansas City ready to rebound

time-read
6 mins  |
August/September 2024