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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Would you trade Brandon Webb for John Smoltz?

That is the post on the Braves SB Nation site today??  I’m Brandon’s agent… What do you think??  This is what I wrote on the Braves SB Nation site......

Hey gang, glad to be involved! I am Brandon’s agent, Jonathan Maurer, msmsports.net and while I think John Smoltz is a LEGEND in Atlanta and will always be one of the best, Webby LOVES to pitch in Atlanta! Brandon has “three years left w/ AZ” (‘08, ‘09, option in 2010). While Brandon LOVES AZ and hopes to bring the World Series back to the Valley, the D-backs brass and Brandon will have to agree on “fair value” in the next 12 months. If we don’t come to an “agreement,” Webb COULD be on the block after this season. Orlando Hudson is a premier 2B, but he turned down a contract extension and now almost assuredly will be gone from AZ after 2008. Brandon would command, in many opinions, the highest free agent contract ever given to a pitcher if he becomes a free agent after 2010. THAT IS NOT WHAT MOTIVATES BRANDON, but getting a “fair” deal IS important! He still calls Eastern KY his home and if you were to meet him out at the local tavern, he would hang out, buy you a beer and talk baseball all night. He is an “everyday guy” who happens to throw the heck out of a baseball. He WOULD fit with the Atlanta clubhouse, handsdown! Just one stat to throw at everyone…. Since the beginning of the 2006 seasons, Webb is 38-18 with a 2.34 ERA and a major league-high 500 1/3 innings.

LET’S KEEP WEBBY IN D-BACK COUNTRY!!

Later in the thread, in response to various posts about Webb’s market Value,(Vs. Peavy, Santana, etc) things go more specific:

Hey gang, I will chime in more later, but while Peavy signed a good deal to “stay” in San Diego, it was clearly “below” what he could have made as a free agent. While there are some that would argue that years away from free agency is a factor, in Webb’s case, it really is not important to us. Brandon would LOVE to stay here and HE IS HERE until 2010 (they will pick up his option), but “fair” to us IS between Peavy and Santana (if we do a deal before 2009 season) to stay in AZ long term. The idea of “security” was a deciding factor in both of Webb’s last two deals, but this time around, that has zero bearing on the contract. D-backs ownership has seen the value of the franchise go from 238M to 379M in the last 4 years, attendance is up and the MLB TV network will bring Millions to each team. Unlike the NFL network, baseball got the cable companies to buy into MLB Network so it will be seen by EVERYONE. Josh Byrnes is a smart, smart man and he has a strong team in Peter Woodfork, Jerry Dipoto, and AJ Hinch (who are all future GM’s) so while there is negotiation to have in the future, the goal for Brandon and I is that everyone wins. “If a free agent,” Brandon gets 6 years, 24M a year, hands down. We WILL take less, but more than Peavy (who is a Max effort delivery guy). Here’s to another D-back win tonight! Thanks, Jonathan

Interesting negotiating concept, eh....using a blog.

shoewizard Posted: April 22, 2008 at 05:07 PM | 23 comment(s)
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   1. shoewizard  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 07:30 PM (#2755001)
In case anyone is wondering, I can absolutely confirm that is indeed Jonathon Maurer posting as agentmon on the AZ Snakepit blog.

This generated quite a lot of discussion in D Back land today, not only at AZ Snakepit, but also at DBBP in this Formerly Dormant Thread

Personally, I find it stunning that a professional agent would make such open comments about his clients future in such a manner. But maybe that just says more about how far the blogosphere has come. Instead of relying on a sports writer to get the "spin" right, do it yourself???

What was REALLY weird though is the comments he made about Orlando Hudson, who is not his client.


Orlando Hudson is a premier 2B, but he turned down a contract extension and now almost assuredly will be gone from AZ after 2008.


And


Omar Minaya LOVES O-Dog and will give him 9-10M a year to pay there in 2009 and beyond.. Just my educateds guess…


(Typos not mine)I really can't remember seeing an agent make these kinds of comments about another agent's client in any kind of public forum.
   2. gay guy in cut-offs riding a stegosaurus (MH#1F)  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 07:38 PM (#2755014)
No. But I'd trade John Smoltz for Brandon Webb.

(Sorry, John. I'd feel bad about it for the rest of your career, but I'd have to do it.)
   3. Nasty Nate  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:44 PM (#2755146)
the dude "needs" to go easy on the quotes
   4. Justin T  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:46 PM (#2755153)
That is "weird". I DON'T KNOW what the agent's motivations would be, this far from free agency, to come out of the "blue" with this sort of "detailed" information. But it is DEFINITELY "interesting".
   5. Nasty Nate  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 08:53 PM (#2755174)
Webb got a 4 YEAR extension just two years ago. How soon "into his next deal" does the agent start making blog posts about wanting ANOTHER EXTENSION? would he even make it "half-way" through the extension first?
   6. Elston Gunn  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:24 PM (#2755252)
Would you trade Brandon Webb for John Smoltz?


No.

I really "want" get Brandon the BIGGEST deal in the "history" of sports by pimping him out in the middle of his current "contract." NOT THAT BRANDON ACTUALLY CARES ABOUT MONEY. If it were up to him, he would play in Arizona for "free" BECAUSE HE LOVES THE CITY SO MUCH. We just really need to get what is "fair."


Seriously, is this dude for real?

(Also, he didn't actually say that second thing. You believed it though, didn't you?)
   7. Kyle S at work  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:36 PM (#2755276)
Unbelievable. Did he temporarily lose his mind?
“If a free agent,” Brandon gets 6 years, 24M a year, hands down. We WILL take less, but more than Peavy (who is a Max effort delivery guy).

Remind me not to have you help me negotiate when I buy a car, Jonathon.
   8. Justin T  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 09:54 PM (#2755287)
Maybe this distraction is why Webb is getting lit up by the Giants "tonight". GOOD JOB, agent boy.

(3R and 8H through 4 is lit up when we're talking about the Giants. Zito better not get a W.)
   9. 1k5v3L, Useless  Posted: April 22, 2008 at 10:27 PM (#2755334)
I certainly find it strange to use someone's blog to argue for your client. It's... different. The agent first posted on a Braves blog (link) where the peaceful discussion was revolving around "How dumb are some random Braves fans today: having already agreed that we might trade Franceour for JUpton, would we trade Smoltz for Webb?" --and then the agent came in to opine on how "Webby LOVES to pitch in Atlanta!" (agent's words). Then on Jim's blog (azsnakepit.com), the agent, besides talking about Webb's contract, also tackled the topic of Orlando Hudson's negotiations with Arizona and Omar Minaya's professed love for O-dawg. Again, strange. I know I like to keep my salary negotiations somewhat private, but maybe that's just me.
   10. Gambling Rent Czar  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 02:43 AM (#2755469)
Orlando Hudson is a premier 2B, but he turned down a contract extension and now almost assuredly will be gone from AZ after 2008


didn't Orlando Hudson say this himself a few months back.

bizarre negotiating tactics though. wow.
   11. Padraic  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 04:39 AM (#2755478)
I think using the blog is far less "weird" than just the near insanity-level of "quotes" and CAPS. This guy seriously needs to look here. (Yes, I found this through FJM's link a few days ago, but maybe not everyone has seen it)
   12. Brian White  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 05:36 AM (#2755480)
"I have to agree" WITH WXRL. "This" is VERY STRANGE, and it ALSO "strikes" me as "unprofessional".
   13. ValueArb  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:01 AM (#2755613)
"Jonathon Maurer" is a pseudonym, Webb has hired Canseco as his agent.
   14. Dingbat Charlie  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:05 AM (#2755616)
cocaine is a hell of a drug
   15. Danny  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:08 AM (#2755618)
I don't know what's worse: the agent's writing style or that he's doing this at all.
   16. JPWF13  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:09 AM (#2755619)
If I was Webb I'd can this guy and hire Boras...
   17. shoewizard  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:12 AM (#2755622)
If I was Webb I'd can this guy and hire Boras...


I sure hope that doesn't happen. But the same thought crossed my mind.
   18. formerly dp  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:19 AM (#2755632)
I traded Webb in my keeper league for Smoltz last year right before he went on his massive scoreless streak tear. Horrible deal in the long-term (it was Webb and Carlos Guillen for Smoltz, Miguel Tejada and Carlos Quentin), but it was the last year I could keep Webb and Guillen.
   19. Dr Love  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:25 AM (#2755640)
Doesn't this guy write for BASN?
   20. The Marksist  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:42 AM (#2755665)
Someone needs to reply to those posts pretending to be Webb.
   21. flournoy  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 10:54 AM (#2755673)
If I was Webb I'd can this guy and hire Boras...


I don't know about Boras, specifically, but I'd definitely think about firing this guy. My first thought was that this was just a poorly executed hoax, and I still haven't ruled that out. But if this is actually real, then it's the most ludicrous thing I've seen in a long time. I mean, with communication skills like that, would you want this jester negotiating a contract for you?
   22. DL from MN  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 11:02 AM (#2755684)
With all the baseball loving lawyers around here who love to play armchair GM, I'm surprised none of them have tried to become player agents. It looks like the bar is lower to becoming an agent than it is for becoming a GM and the money is probably better.

Anyone know how to go about becoming an agent?
   23. flournoy  Posted: April 23, 2008 at 11:10 AM (#2755702)
I asked the same question (posts 20-22) a little while ago. There are a few replies with some tips, though nothing very detailed. Personally, I am not one of those baseball loving lawyers. (I do love baseball, though.)

If anything, this thread has proven (if not a hoax) that agents can write like monkeys and get top clients, so who knew?
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