Scott Boras Blasts MLB After Client Carter Stewart Gets Big Contract in Japan

Scott Boras is known to be quite a big deal in sports agency circles. As the head of one of the largest sports agencies in existence, The Boras Corporation, it's safe to say he has massive influence in baseball personnel movement.

He didn't do anything to lessen his power with his latest comments bashing MLB for its draft system.

The Atlanta Braves drafted amateur prospect Carter Stewart as a 19-year-old out of high school in Florida in 2018, but the former first-round selection opted instead to play in Japan, where he has the chance to acquire more guaranteed money initially and hit free agency earlier than most prospects.

Boras, being the businessman he is, approved of Stewart's decision to take over $7 million from Japan to play professionally overseas instead of getting paid league minimum and toiling around in the minor leagues for years.

“Carter has a unique set of circumstances that placed him in position where MLB placed a detriment upon him,’’ his agent Scott Boras told USA TODAY Sports. “There are only a few draft picks in this decade that are worth this consideration and treatment. But the blithe he suffered in the draft really created a scenario where the Japanese alternative is almost a necessity. He had no opportunity to get true value in the American system."

“People will say I took a 19-year-old kid and threw him to Japan,’’ Boras said. “This had to be his choice. My thing was that the family had to be on board with the culture. They had to go over there and understand what it was about. They came back, and said, ‘This is fantastic. This was best for him and his family."

Boras believes Stewart's example can set a precedent for future MLB draftees who want to opt for more money up front and a quicker path to free agency rather than go through the minor leagues. If Stewart is successful, Boras could once again monopolize on a potentially profitable way to market baseball talent.