Agent takes credit for Bagwell and Biggio retiring as Astros

[pravata]

Barry Axelrod, while negotiating a contract for Jake Peavy in San Diego,

“My record would probably reflect that a great percentage of my clients have chosen to stay put,” Axelrod said. “I was very, very proud of that in the cases of Biggio and Bagwell. I love players staying in the same place.”  Link

[kevwun]

I don't think he's taking credit for it, he's saying a lot of clients like to stay with one organization.  I do think it is something to be proud of.

[pravata]

I don't think he's taking credit for it, he's saying a lot of clients like to stay with one organization.  I do think it is something to be proud of.

In the article cited,

"Peavy has said he wants to spend his entire career with the franchise that brought him to the majors – a position similar to one Axelrod has advocated to several clients..."

[hillbillyken]

I think Axlerod deserves some of the credit.
A player will ultimately make the choice of where to sign, but if an agent refuses to negotiate civily (ie. arod)with a team or fill his client with absurd offers from other teams that turn out to be the same he could have gotten with his original team (ie. stems cf'er).

[kevwun]

He tells his clients that staying in one place is a good thing.  He has represented several players that have the same views on the matter as he does and he says as much.  I don't see it as taking credit for Biggio and Bagwell playing their entire careers in Houston.

[Andyzipp]

Axelrod has suggested that the benefits in staying with one organization over the course of a stellar career can and often do outweigh the slight occasional bump one may receive by going elsewhere as a free agent.  This advice has been dependent on a fair offer being made to his clients.

He also is fairly selective about which athletes he chooses to work with, which enables him to really get to know what would be best for his clients.  IIRC, when Biggio was weighing a FA offer from the Cards or Mets, Axelrod let him know that choosing to leave the Astros would likely mean that changing teams/cities every few years would be part of his career from that point on.

[pravata]

He tells his clients that staying in one place is a good thing.  He has represented several players that have the same views on the matter as he does and he says as much.  I don't see it as taking credit for Biggio and Bagwell playing their entire careers in Houston.

I do.

[Froback]

I think it an indication at least.

He encourages his players to remain with the same team if they offer reasonable contracts.
Someone like Boras encourages his players to always sign with the highest bidder.

I think both seek players who fit the style they like to use in contract talks.  Helps them keep from getting fired for not matching up with the personality of the player.  I think that type of thing is very common among agents.

They like knowing they will keep a steady income like the rest of us, and by steady I mean not losing their players to other agents, especially around the time of big paydays.

[Noe]

Axelrod has suggested that the benefits in staying with one organization over the course of a stellar career can and often do outweigh the slight occasional bump one may receive by going elsewhere as a free agent.  This advice has been dependent on a fair offer being made to his clients.

He also is fairly selective about which athletes he chooses to work with, which enables him to really get to know what would be best for his clients.  IIRC, when Biggio was weighing a FA offer from the Cards or Mets, Axelrod let him know that choosing to leave the Astros would likely mean that changing teams/cities every few years would be part of his career from that point on.

If I remember correctly, Barry Axelrod was unable to soothe the hard feelings that Daryl Kile had against Houston and when Colorado offered one dollar more than Houston, he bolted.  At least I remember it being Axelrod who represented Kile... I could be wrong.  And it was Colorado who came calling for Biggio and almost convinced him to bolt for the mile high city as well.

[Andyzipp]

If I remember correctly, Barry Axelrod was unable to soothe the hard feelings that Daryl Kile had against Houston and when Colorado offered one dollar more than Houston, he bolted.  At least I remember it being Axelrod who represented Kile... I could be wrong.  And it was Colorado who came calling for Biggio and almost convinced him to bolt for the mile high city as well.

Axelrod was Kile's agent as well.  From what I understand, Kile's situation in CO reinforced the idea that staying with a team might be worth the loss of a few dollars.  Kile certainly regretted leaving Houston...up until he ended up in Saint Louise.

[pravata]

I think it an indication at least.

He encourages his players to remain with the same team if they offer reasonable contracts.
Someone like Boras encourages his players to always sign with the highest bidder.

I think both seek players who fit the style they like to use in contract talks.  Helps them keep from getting fired for not matching up with the personality of the player.  I think that type of thing is very common among agents.

They like knowing they will keep a steady income like the rest of us, and by steady I mean not losing their players to other agents, especially around the time of big paydays.

Mark Grace is the only big time client of his I've found who stayed with a team for a long time.  Matt Morris maybe also.  The Cardinals pushed him out.  Looks like it's more the player.  I don't know what he thinks he has to be "very very proud" about. 

[HudsonHawk]

Mark Grace is the only big time client of his I've found who stayed with a team for a long time.  Matt Morris maybe also.  The Cardinals pushed him out.  Looks like it's more the player.  I don't know what he thinks he has to be "very very proud" about. 

Perhaps he's proud that he has a reputation as an agent who isn't always pimping his client the way some agents do.

[pravata]

Perhaps he's proud that he has a reputation as an agent who isn't always pimping his client the way some agents do.

Other clients of Axelrod's such as Phil Nevin, Mark Sweeney, Matt Clement, didn't take his advice.  At best he can be proud to be associated with Bagwell and Biggio.  He can't pretend it was his counsel that kept them in Houston.

[kevwun]

The Padres want this deal to happen.  Peavy wants it to happen and the fans want it to happen.  A writer wrote a peachy article telling everyone why it's going to happen with a passing remark about Biggio and Bagwell that reinforces the extension getting done.  I don't see anything wrong with it.

[HudsonHawk]

He can't pretend it was his counsel that kept them in Houston.

I didn't interpret his comments to mean that.

[pravata]

I didn't interpret his comments to mean that.

Then how, "My record would probably reflect that a great percentage of my clients have chosen to stay put,”  by accident?  He has had some Aurilia, Grace, Morris, but then there's the other guys he's represented I listed who do move a lot.  It's nothing he's done, it's the players.  Agents pretending they're the story are irritating.

[kevwun]

This article was a feel good piece.  That quote from Axelrod was a part of it.  See folks, even his agent wants Jake to stay in San Diego and he's already gotten contracts done in similar situations in the past.

[Froback]

I didn't interpret his comments to mean that.

Could it mean, maybe, that he is trying to distance himself from Boras, or at least trying to differentiate himself from Boras?

Just a thought, because it looks like owners are starting to black-ball Boras (and not via collusion).

[pravata]

Could it mean, maybe, that he is trying to distance himself from Boras, or at least trying to differentiate himself from Boras?

Just a thought, because it looks like owners are starting to black-ball Boras (and not via collusion).

Axelrod has had some run ins with Boras in the past.  He accused him of trying to steal away some of his minor league clients.  The Axelrod comment about Biggio and Bagwell comes in the midst of Boras' shenanigans with the Yankees.  And at this point I consider his no comment just as insulting as his announcement during the World Series. 

But he's got all kinds of time to jerk around the Tigers. Rogers told Detroit in September, "It's either here or nowhere." Link somehow Boras has convinced him to lie. 

And we have Pettitte, who God told to be a Yankee, apparently getting tarted around by the Hendricks boys.   

I don't equate Axelrod with these types, but this comment about Bagwell and Biggio seems in the same vein, "look what I did".

[HudsonHawk]

Could it mean, maybe, that he is trying to distance himself from Boras, or at least trying to differentiate himself from Boras?

Just a thought, because it looks like owners are starting to black-ball Boras (and not via collusion).

I think that's part of it.  But mainly I think it was a "hey, not all agents are the Big Bad Wolf, Jake likes it here, we'll get a deal done, don't worry, be happy". 

[strosrays]

Axelrod has had some run ins with Boras in the past.  He accused him of trying to steal away some of his minor league clients.  The Axelrod comment about Biggio and Bagwell comes in the midst of Boras' shenanigans with the Yankees.  And at this point I consider his no comment just as insulting as his announcement during the World Series. 

But he's got all kinds of time to jerk around the Tigers. Rogers told Detroit in September, "It's either here or nowhere." Link somehow Boras has convinced him to lie. 

And we have Pettitte, who God told to be a Yankee, apparently getting tarted around by the Hendricks boys.   

I don't equate Axelrod with these types, but this comment about Bagwell and Biggio seems in the same vein, "look what I did".

“I was very, very proud of that in the cases of Biggio and Bagwell. I love players staying in the same place.” -----> BULLSHIT REMOVAL MACHINE™ -----> "I am very, very proud of that in the cases of Biggio and Bagwell, I don't suck so bad and/or am not so morally repugnant that either of those fine indiviiduals wouldn't hire me."

[hillbillyken]

OK if you are the GM who do you want to come through the door representing a player on your team?

Axlerod gives good advise, Many agents including scotty give crappy advice to get the the most money in said agents pocket.

Axlerod does not make the decision but he sure enough helps!!!

[hostros7]

Axlerod gives good advise, Many agents including scotty give crappy advice to get the the most money in said agents pocket.

Many (most) of his clients probably don't construe any advice that gets them the most money as "crappy."

[hillbillyken]

Many (most) of his clients probably don't construe any advice that gets them the most money as "crappy."

Not the most money to the client the most money in the agents pocket!!!
Without consideration for taxes, living expence, quality of life type issues of a client.
10% is 10% for some of the agents regaurdless of the clients best interest?
This aint "leave it to beaver" ,its baseball, the most isn't allways the best. Sometimes you have to move over the runner and sacrifice the average!

[Rebel Jew]

“I was very, very proud of that in the cases of Biggio and Bagwell. I love players staying in the same place.” -----> BULLSHIT REMOVAL MACHINE™ -----> "I am very, very proud of that in the cases of Biggio and Bagwell, I don't suck so bad and/or am not so morally repugnant that either of those fine indiviiduals wouldn't hire me."

"the most rewarding part was when he gave me my money"