Boras’ Opinion Seems to Carry a Lot of Weight

As besieged Dodger Chairman Bob Daly begins his evaluation of General Manager Kevin Malone and Manager Davey Johnson (if Johnson’s status hasn’t already been determined), one person with whom he talks frequently and who seems to have become something more than just a player agent, club and industry sources say, is Scott Boras.

The possibility of Boras advising and influencing club decisions and direction is an interesting--and potentially insidious--situation given that he represents seven Dodger players and two others the club may pursue as free agents--shortstop Alex Rodriguez and catcher Charles Johnson.

Boras has four-fifths of the Dodger rotation--Kevin Brown, Chan Ho Park, Darren Dreifort and Eric Gagne--in addition to catchers Chad Kreuter and Angel Pena and third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Dreifort is eligible for free agency this winter and Park after the 2001 season. Their re-signing is a priority for the Dodgers-- expensive as it is.

“I think it’s natural to be having a lot of conversations with ownership and the general manager given the number of players I represent and the current situation with some,” Boras said.

“It’s important to maintain a flow of information for the benefit of both sides, but my function is to represent my players as they see fit. My undying loyalty is to my clients.

“The fact that Bob maintains a high visibility at Dodger Stadium and may come over to say hello during a game shouldn’t be misinterpreted. There are 12 to 15 general managers who call me consistently to talk about the game.”

Boras insisted that Daly has never asked his opinion on Malone or Johnson, but wouldn’t he be likely to lobby on behalf of the GM?

After all, Boras is about to take Dreifort and Park to the bank, and Malone was the guy who negotiated against himself when Boras convinced him there were still other clubs in the bidding for Brown, who ultimately signed the $105-million contract that infuriated the industry.

“The only thing I have said about Kevin Malone,” Boras said, “is that his strength is in scouting and development and that he took over a great franchise with a big hole in its system and that it would take him four or five years to fix it. It should be understood that he has no way to fill the Dodger needs from below, and that any general manager is going to be berated and open to criticism when he has to consistently sign free agents to fill as many holes as the Dodgers have, increasing the payroll in the process.”

Boras suggested that Daly, with his movie studio background, and Malone, previously involved in scouting and development, are learning on the job--which translates to an alarming situation for a long-stable franchise and one calling for a little friendly advice at times.

It wouldn’t be a surprise, for instance, if Boras pointed out to the Dodger executives that an ownership willing to underwrite baseball’s postseason television package for $2.5 billion shouldn’t turn its back on spending a comparatively modest $150 million or so for a franchise player of Rodriguez’s stature who can ensure the Dodgers of being part of the postseason for as long as that TV contract lasts, returning money to everyone’s pockets.

It wouldn’t be a surprise if Boras told Daly that for the well-being of the franchise he has to address the Dodger needs now and worry about the budget later, when he has a farm system that will allow him to lower the payroll.

Daly, of course, can afford to listen. The advice is cheap. It’s the agent’s clients who aren’t.