The Nationals' relationship with agent Scott Boras, who currently reps 11 players on the team, is an "unhealthy one" for team business, according to Thom Loverro of the WASHINGTON TIMES. The relationship is "approaching a cult-like atmosphere -- and becoming a joke" around MLB. C Matt Wieters last week agreed to terms with the Nationals, and his deal "isn't the first time that money that wasn't there during the offseason roster construction suddenly became available for a Boras client." The Wieters-Nationals deal "undermines the ability" of the club's front office to "build a roster and spend where the needs are the greatest." Meanwhile, for those who think the relationship between Boras and Nationals Managing Principal Owner Ted Lerner will "translate into a deal" to re-sign RF Bryce Harper, Boras is "not going to miss the opportunity to put the highest-priced free agent in baseball history on the market" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 2/27). Nationals President of Baseball Operations & GM Mike Rizzo said there are players who just "happen to be represented" by Boras. Rizzo: "Go down the list. They’re all good players. We like all of them. They all fit on this team. We want to have good players." He added, "What, am I going to not draft [Nationals 2B Anthony] Rendon because he’s represented by Scott Boras? Other teams might do that. We’re not going to. We want the best players we can have." Meanwhile, in DC, Barry Svrluga wrote to "expect more Boras-Nats deals in the future given (A) the way the Nationals like to structure their contracts, which is often with lots of money deferred to future years, and (B) Boras’s willingness to do the same." There are "people within the Nationals’ organization who feel this is an unhealthy relationship." However, Rizzo said that he is "not one of them" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/27).
