I should’ve made a more general statement that fans should not just blame the organization for rise of ticket prices (which is what is happening on many Phillie blogs). It’s the economy . . . supply & demand . . . along with salaries, etc.

I just don’t care for arrogance and Boras is the epitome of that in my opinion. And I guess since I know he gets a cut of these contracts . . . well . . .

But point taken.

Is it possible that you have never once in your life negotiated for anything? You’ve never bought a car, listened to the car salesman’s price, responded with a counter-offer lower than what you’re prepared to pay, and worked to meet somewhere in the middle? That is ALL this quote from Boras is. It isn’t an ironclad demand for that much or no deal. What, Werth will sit out 2011 if he doesn’t get $120M/7 yrs? He’ll take the best offer he can find. That is all ANY player winds up receiving. If some team is prepared to offer him $100M/6 yrs (or $90M/5 yrs, with an option for a 6th yr), then he’s making more than Jason Bay even if he’s making less than the initial floated suggestion from Boras above. Big deal–he’s going to be set for life with that contract, and that is what his agent is doing for him.

BTW, if you really think going after Beltre and moving him to the OF is the solution, then be prepared to sit across the table from Adrian Beltre’s agent: Scott Boras.

If you hired someone to negotiate your salary at work (assuming that you do work), then you’d want someone who can maximize the amount you’re going to be paid. That is all Scott Boras does, and he is the best in his industry at such.

Blaming him for high salaries in baseball is to wildly misunderstand how players earn these contracts: An agent floats a suggestion and the team says yes or no. Read that last part again if you’re still confused; Boras didn’t extort $120M from the Cardinals, they offered Matt Holiday that amount of money to stay with the team. The Cardinals could always have refused, but they did not.

Agents don’t write contracts, general managers do. The really good organizations are those which can survive the departure of a player and continue to thrive. Are the Phillies that kind of team? I guess we’ll find out in 2011, assuming the Phillies front office doesn’t decide that the team can’t do without Werth.

P.S. Except for people in comment threads who get angry at everything.

Agents are putting unrealistic ideas into players heads and inflating their egos beyond they’re worth (not that any pro player is worth what they are paid). A 31-year-old outfielder expecting 7 years . . . um, yeah. But sadly he will probably get it somewhere and then the fans of that team will be upset in 3 – 4 years when his production tanks.

But you are right, as long as fans continue to pay the tickets prices, the stadiums will be filled and the players and owners will make money. If they don’t, ticket prices will fall (see NY Mets).

And thankfully the ticket prices in Philly are still only a fraction of those of the Yankees!!!

PS: Werth STUNK with RISP this season. Beware whatever team picks him up!

In baseball the players take home about 52 percent of league wide revenue, which is the lowest of all the major sports. Baseball players are still trying to catch up with their peers when it comes to salary. Keep in mind that the Yankees and their 200MM payroll are still able to turn a profit, which should give you an idea of what kind of money the owners are pocketing.

It is the players and owners working in concert that drives the numbers up, and we the fans are the fuel that allows them to go ever higher. If you don’t like it stop attending games and just watch them from the comfort of your couch.

If an American (major) League teams signs him for the big dollars, they will regret it. He should stick to AAAA.

Werth is a great player and I’d love to see him in Phillie pinstripes next year but he isn’t worth 7 years . . .