ORLANDO — With Cody Bellinger a well-liked goal in free company, agent Scott Boras shed some gentle on the outfielder’s market whereas doing his finest impression of The Riddler on Tuesday.
“It’s not for me to JUDGE, but great players see RED if they have a big bat YANKED out of their lineup,” Boras, purposely pausing after every capitalized work, stated on the Winter Conferences. “I haven’t MET a crew that DODGES a five-tool participant. To PHIL the middle subject want is a GIANT step in direction of the playoffs. North and South outfielders that fly with energy, they’re uncommon BIRDS. Within the offseason, there’s quite a lot of start-up to organizations, and for that motive, there’s quite a lot of ANGEL buyers which might be on the lookout for very versatile outfielders.
“So other than that, Belli doesn’t have much interest.”
The Yankees, particularly Brian Cashman, haven’t been shy about their need to retain Bellinger this winter after the 30-year-old, acquired from the Cubs final winter, slashed .272/.334/.480 with 29 residence runs, 98 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a 125 wRC+ over 152 video games.
“He was an impactful player for us last year, and we’d love to have him back if it could fit for us,” Cashman stated Sunday, although he declined to say if the Yankees had made a proper supply.
Boras, in the meantime, known as Bellinger, whose dad wore pinstripes from 1999-2001, and the Yankees “an ideal fit” earlier this offseason.
Bellinger stated he would “absolutely” be all for remaining a Yankee after the crew’s season ended within the ALDS, however that end result will not be assured with different massive spenders chasing the veteran.
Boras declined to supply a timeline for Bellinger’s determination.
“I can never predict markets because when owners get involved, they can do things at a moment’s notice,” he stated.
On that notice, Boras additionally wouldn’t say if Yankees proprietor Hal Steinbrenner has been concerned in negotiations up to now. Nonetheless, he did say that talks with the Yankees about Bellinger are ongoing.
Boras added that he hasn’t gotten any indication the Yankees wish to restrict payroll this season, although saying in any other case wouldn’t do his shoppers any good.
“No, I don’t think when Cash or Randy [Levine] call me they talk about limiting payroll,” he stated. “No, they don’t. They talk about acquiring players. They’ve never made mention of that.”
No Visits Deliberate For Imai… But
Boras stated that one other consumer, Japanese starter Tatsuya Imai, could go to the cities of suitors after the Winter Conferences. Nonetheless, the right-hander doesn’t have any stops deliberate in the mean time.
“We’ve got to really kind of narrow the interest,” Boras stated.
The Yankees are among the many events, although Boras didn’t say so straight when requested.
“Cash and I have talked multiple times,” he stated, “so we’re in communication about a number of players.”
