Baseball sources told ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick that agent Scott Boras is seeking a long-term deal for Shin-Soo-Choo worth more than the seven-year, $126 million contract that Boras negotiated for Jayson Werth with the Washington Nationals in December 2010.
Choo, 31, has a .389 career on-base percentage, compared to Werth’s career .367 OBP when he signed his deal with the Nationals. Boras is also selling Choo’s track record as a leadoff hitter and ability to play center field, although most front office people envision Choo as more of a right fielder. Choo’s career .680 OPS against left-handed pitching (compared to .932 vs. righties) is the major knock against him in the eyes of MLB executives.
Boras represents the two top outfielders on the market in Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury, and early indications are that he’s looking for deals closer to Carl Crawford’s $142 million contract than the agreement Werth signed with Washington three years ago.
ESPN’s Buster Olney recently reported that Boras was looking for a $130 million deal for Ellsbury after the center fielder finished second in AL MVP voting in 2011. The next few weeks or 2-3 months will determine if teams in search of outfield help share Boras’ opinion on the value of either Ellsbury or Choo.
