Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
First baseman Mark Teixeira is the latest New York Yankees player to fire Scott Boras not long after signing a long-term, multi-million dollar deal negotiated by the superagent.
“I’ve decided to end my relationship with Scott Boras,” Teixeira said after gathering reporters to his locker in the clubhouse of George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday morning. “He’ll no longer be my agent. There’s no reason to get into a lot of specifics right now. Sometimes business relationships just run their course. For me and my family right now, this is the best decision.”
Boras negotiated the eight-year, $180 million deal that Teixeira signed with the Yankees in December 2008. He also negotiated third baseman Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year, $275 million contract extension with the Yankees signed after Rodriguez opted out of his original 10-year, $252 million deal, also negotiated by Boras. Rodriguez dropped Boras last September.
The association between Teixeira and Boras dates back 12 years, to when Teixeira was a teenaged prospect at Georgia Tech. “Scott and I have had a great relationship business-wise,” Teixeira said. “We both have worked well together. He was obviously disappointed but hopefully when I see him we’ll be able to shake hands and say thanks for the work that we’ve done for each other.”
Boras did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
Although he said he has been considering the move for a year, Teixiera said he has not hired a new agent and does not have one lined up to replace Boras. “There’s plenty of time for that,” he said.
Asked if he would continue to pay Boras his commissions for the remaining six years of the contract, a laughing Teixeira said, “of course.”
Teixeira’s contract runs through 2016 and will pay him $22.5 million a year for each of the next five years.
Earlier this spring, Yankee second baseman Robinson Cano acknowledged that he had hired Boras as his agent. Boras also represents relief pitcher Rafael Soriano and outfielder Andruw Jones, both signed by the Yankees this winter.
Wallace Matthews covers the Yankees for ESPNNewYork.com.
Follow Wallace Matthews on Twitter: @wallacematthews
