Scott Boras

Alex Rodriguez has left the man who negotiated his 10-year, $275 million contract.

Rodriguez is not expected to replace Scott Boras with Pittsburgh attorney Jay Reisinger and Washington lawyer Jim Sharp, who helped him with his legal affairs.

Reisinger was the one who negotiated Rodriguez's ordeal with Congress for performance-enhancing drugs. Reisinger also represented Sammy Sosa and Andy Pettitte in their trials.

Nothing to worry about Washington Nationals fans, this will get done, although it may come down to the deadline before it is announced.

The posturing that is going on between the overall No. 1 pick in MLB's first year player draft and the team that picked him is simply normal negotiation ploys by both sides. Believe me, the kid will sign when all is said and done.

James Paxton is by all accounts a great prospect. So great, in fact, that the Toronto Blue Jays plucked the Canadian lefty with the 37th pick in last year's Amateur Draft.

Enter Scott Boras.

Boras is a man who provokes extremes in those he brushes up against. For clients he's literally money. To owners and cheapskates (who are not mutually exclusive), he's Gordon Gekko with a baseball.

Johnny Damon blew it.

And not by signing with the Detroit Tigers a few days ago. That was just more fallout.

No, Damon blew it in December 2005, when he agreed to sign a free agent contract with the New York Yankees.

Let me start by saying this: I’m a Boston Red Sox fan, but this isn't a fan’s rant about how Damon turned his back on Red Sox Nation to join its most hated rival. The thought never really crossed my mind.

This is simply a practical look at a short-sighted decision made by Damon and his camp four years ago—one that will haunt him for years.

The Mets have signed Jason Bay.

Dismayed that Theo Epstein failed to retain the popular left fielder, but relieved that Brian Cashman has not acquired in him another Johnny Damon, Red Sox Nation releases a long-held breath.

Still, the Red Sox could go outfielder crazy and sieze the available, affordable and vastly superior Matt Holliday.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Cardinals believe themselves well-positioned to re-sign their goatish protection for Albert Pujols. With their current offer, they would frankly get Holliday for a proverbial song.

Who makes the most money in professional baseball?

A-Rod? Nope.

CC Sabathia? Try again.

Mark Teixeira ? Give up, you aren’t even close.

The man who makes the most money in professional baseball would have to be agent Scott Boras.

"Oh [expletive]."

That's what I'd be thinking if I were a sports agent right now—more specifically, an agent representing one of Major League Baseball's forthcoming crop of free agents.

The problem might be just the same in the other major American sports, but it's baseball season, so I'm talking small ball.

On April Fool’s Day, 1985, George Plimpton gave us the fictional tale of Mets super prospect Sidd Finch. The article was was published in Sports Illustrated under the guise of reality, and as legend has it, many readers believed the story to be true.

Including myself. 

When I go back and read the prose again, it's easy to believe every word, because Plimpton’s pen is that well-crafted, although some of the facts seemed too gaudy to believe.

If you're a Dodger fan, which of the following are you thinking when you wake up these sunny Los Angeles' mornings?  After you've had your coffee and read the latest Manny Ramirez updates?

1.  Oh [expletive], Manny's hurt.

2.  Oh [expletive], Manny's already faking an injury to dog it.

3.  Oh [expletive], Manny's got an option after 2009 so we have to do this all over.

4.  Even if Manny only plays 100 games hard, we're still the favorites to win the National League West (as long as they're the right 100 games).