Managers and agents wonder if slow market will repeat

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Agent John Boggs stood in the lobby at the hotel hosting the baseball general managers’ meetings and talked about last winter, when dozens of free agents remained unsigned after spring training began, causing prices to plummet as opening day approached.

“It’s the greatest thing for the owners because they’ve got a lot of players that are wanting to play and have a lot of game left in them, and all of a sudden are just sitting there dying to get an opportunity again, and so it’s a gigantic Macy’s basement sale,” he said. “I hope it is an aberration because I think there’s a lot of good players that are being deprived of getting an opportunity to continue their careers.”

As the offseason starts, teams and agents aren’t sure whether the market will revert to its previous pace or whether clubs will try to wait out players again.

Miami’s efforts to trade Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani’s decision to leave Japan for the major leagues created roadblocks after the 2017 season.

“I think the lesson to be drawn is don’t hold your vacation off until late January, because everybody seemed to be pretty busy last year,” the Texas Rangers’ Jon Daniels said.

This year’s free-agent class is a far stronger group, led by outfielders Bryce Harper, A.J. Pollock and Michael Brantley, infielders Manny Machado and Josh Donaldson, starting pitchers Dallas Keuchel, Patrick Corbin, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Nathan Eovaldi and closers Craig Kimbrel and Zach Britton.

“The good ones will get their money,” Philadelphia GM Matt Klentak said.