Quick Notes: Scott Boras explains why Eric Hosmer vetoed the trade to Nationals
I promise that this will be the last article about Tuesday's major trade.
We all know that Eric Hosmer was originally part of the trade between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres that sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell over to the West Coast. We also know that once Hosmer was alerted that he was part of the trade, he executed his no-trade clause to the Nationals and was ultimately traded to the Red Sox.
Even though Hosmer had the Washington Nationals on his list of teams he didn't want to be traded to when he signed his contract with the Padres; a lot can change.
So, why did Hosmer decline to join the Nats? According to his longtime agent, Scott Boras, it was about avoiding a rebuilding situation like the one currently ongoing in Washington.
"Athletes, when they become free agents, they want to have a little more control over where they play, and who they play for," Boras told Sam Levitt on 97.3 The Fan in San Diego. "And, certainly, in Eric's contract he had a list of teams that he did not want to go to, because he didn't want to be in a rebuild. He wanted to be in a competitive environment, and we're very happy that the Padres ownership got involved, and helped trade him to a team that allowed him that opportunity."
In Boston, Hosmer joined a Red Sox team that was .500 and, incredibly, in last place in the bruising AL East entering Wednesday's action. But the Sox were very much alive in the wild-card chase, only 3.0 games behind the Rays for the last three spots.
The Nationals should make it a rule that you will be out the door if you are a Boras client.
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