NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The most high-profile player agent in Major League Baseball, Scott Boras, offered his thoughts about the Cardinals’ offseason moves to address their starting pitching needs as well as their stated intention of trading outfielder Tyler O’Neill on Wednesday at the MLB Winter Meetings.
Boras answered questions from reporters for more than 45 minutes while standing in front of a backdrop branded with his company logo at The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. His wide-ranging session touched upon topics related to several of his clients, the overall free-agent market and the climate within the industry.
Boras fired a few barbs at the Cardinals in regard to O’Neill, who Boras represents, as well as the club’s free-agent starting pitching acquisitions of right-handers Sonny Gray, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn.
Earlier this week, Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak confirmed that the club was looking to trade the dynamic and injury-plagued O’Neill.
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“Well, Tyler O’Neill is eighth in the MVP voting, 30-plus home runs, won two Gold Gloves,†Boras said. “You know the talent evaluation of the Cardinals, it’s nice to know that they have players that reach higher levels than that I guess. I don’t know.â€
The statistics Boras cited were from O’Neill’s breakout season in 2021. That season, O’Neill slashed .286/.352/.560 with 34 home runs, 80 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 138 games. He finished eighth in the NL MVP and won the second of his back-to-back Gold Glove Awards for his defense in left field.
In the past two seasons, O’Neill has played a total of 168 games and has slashed .229/.310/.397 with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs.
The Cardinals projects Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker as their everyday corner outfielders this season with Tommy Edman currently slated to start in center field. Dylan Carlson provides depth and gives them insurance and a backup option as an everyday center field.
Boras also represents multiple free-agent starting pitchers, including reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell as well as former Cardinals pitcher and recent World Series champion Jordan Montgomery.
“I think that they are trying to improve their team,†Boras said of the Cardinals pitching additions. “Obviously, we think that we have pitchers that are at, certainly, a higher tier. More of a No. 1 type tier. But I would always say that about players who have had (performed at) a very successful rate and had postseason success and all those things like a Montgomery or a Snell.â€
Boras comment clearly places the free-agent pitchers under his umbrella as a level above the Cardinals’ top acquisition Gray, who finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting this season. Gray currently slots atop the Cardinals’ revamped rotation.
The Cardinals traded Montgomery to the Texas Rangers, where he helped win the World Series title, ahead of this summer’s MLB trading deadline.
The sent right-hander Chris Stratton and Montgomery to the Rangers in exchange for major-league relief pitcher John King, minor-league starting pitcher Tekoah Roby and minor-league infielder Thomas Saggese.
Boras said he and the Cardinals had discussions about the potential of Montgomery returning to the Cardinals this offseason.
“Mo and I met at the GM Meetings and certainly we let him know that we were open to the idea,†Boras said.
Montgomery, a left-hander who turns 31 later this month, certainly seemed to leave that door open when speaking to reporters in the clubhouse at Busch Stadium after the trade in late July.
“It’s a great organization and I’m not going to burn any bridges with great people,†Montgomery said at the time. “So it’s always an opportunity.â€
The Cardinals acquired Montgomery from the New York Yankees at the trading deadline in 2022 in the deal that sent center fielder Harrison Bader to the Yankees.
In March during spring training, Montgomery said no talks had taken place between him and the Cardinals about a potential extension.
On Wednesday, Boras indicated that topic had been broached prior to the Cardinals decision to trade Montgomery.
“There was a little bit of talk, but Jordan really wanted to be in a position where — once the Cardinals reached a point in June where they were at a moment of not being competitive for that season — he wanted to see if he could go somewhere. It certainly worked out well. He got himself a ring and did what he did, but that had no effect on his desire to return to ºüÀêÊÓƵ at all.â€