Toronto Blue Jays: More fireworks with Scott Boras?

With Aaron Sanchez entering his first year of arbitration eligibility, how much will the tempestuous relationship between the Toronto Blue Jays and Scott Boras impact the process?

Mention the name Scott Boras to anyone associated with the Toronto Blue Jays and there’s a good chance the response will involve a groan and/or a roll of the eyes. Simply put, there is little love lost between the “Most Powerful Sports Agent in the World” and Canada’s Major League Baseball team.

This leads to the question of if the animosity between the two sides is about to rear its ugly head again? That’s because Boras represents Aaron Sanchez, who is set to enter his first year of arbitration eligibility.

While the arbitration process is par the normal in professional baseball, there are concerns about how uncomfortable this particular negotiation will get. And it relates to events which took place during spring training this year.

Sanchez was coming off a fantastic 2016 campaign and was hoping to be rewarded accordingly. This hope was theoretically justified, after he won the AL ERA title and went 15-2 in 30 starts.

However, the Blue Jays’ offer was seen as unacceptable, with Sanchez and Boras declining it accordingly. As per Sportsnet, the Blue Jays made their offer based on a formula they had in place to calculate raises for pre-arbitration players.

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If ever there was a case for the Blue Jays to throw out their formula and use some common sense, it was the scenario involving Sanchez. After the season he had, you could certainly understand why he would reject the modest (insulting) offer.

Unfortunately for the 2016 All-Star, the Blue Jays then renewed his contract for the minimum of $535,000. Again noted by Sportsnet, this figure was based on a policy that had been in place for 10 years.

With all this in mind, it’s understandable why there might be some concern over how negotiations will play out this time around. However, if the latest news is anything to go by, this concern may be unwarranted.

At least that’s the case, according to Boras himself. As reported by Shi Davidi and Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the 65-year-old said:

"“My focus is not about anything other than making Aaron Sanchez the best pitcher he can be, I think that’s what the Toronto Blue Jays fans and the organization want.“Our focus and his focus has to be not on the normal course of business that occurs off the field. It really has to do with his durability, has to do with him getting on the mound and being that No. 1 pitcher that he is again.“If that happens all things usually work out.”"

Boras’ comments may surprise some, especially given the perception his client was previously shortchanged (almost literally) by the Toronto Blue Jays. However, the clue to his approach can be found in the reference to Sanchez’s durability.

The 2017 campaign was extremely frustrating for the 2010 first round draft pick, due to his widely documented blister issues. He was sent to the DL on four separate occasions and was limited to eight starts all year.

In short, no matter who is at fault for the ongoing blister problems, regardless of how this blame should be shared out, it will impact the arbitration process. In short, the Blue Jays will likely argue Sanchez shouldn’t get as much as he wants, until there is evidence his blister issues will not continue to affect him.

As such, it makes perfect sense why Boras is playing nice, at least for now. However, if and when Sanchez is able to show he is over his blister problems, expect the old Boras to resurface, to remind the Toronto Blue Jays why they get so frustrated in dealing with him.

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Do you buy what Boras is saying, or will it be a case of him being unable to help himself? Regardless, with Sanchez be around for the long-term in Toronto, or will the Blue Jays attempt to cash in on his talent? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.