Sales job: Scott Boras, agent for outfielder Bryce Harper, says the Giants would be a “perfect fit” for his client, in search of a record-breaking contract.
CARLSBAD, San Diego County — Agent Scott Boras called Farhan Zaidi a “great fit” for the Giants.
“Farhan fits San Francisco,” Boras said Wednesday of the Giants’ new president of baseball operations.
The question is, does Bryce Harper fit San Francisco?
“I’ll let them tell you that,” Boras said before going ahead and doing it himself. “Certainly, Bryce is a perfect fit in a lot of cities, and San Francisco would be one of them.”
Boras represents the celebrated free-agent outfielder who’s expected to receive a record contract surpassing Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year, $325 million deal.
Citing statistics that rank the 26-year-old Harper with alltime greats at his age, Boras said his client is “generational” and “iconic” and quipped, “Harper’s bazaar has begun.”
In a Chronicle interview at the general manager meetings Wednesday, Boras said Harper likes San Francisco and explained why.
“I think he likes the absolute feel of the ballpark and the fans,” Boras said. “It’s a great fan base. You know you’re at a ballgame, and he loves the enthusiasm and their success.”
Asked whether the 24-foot right-field wall separating the field from McCovey Cove is intimidating, Boras said, “Not when you have Bryce Harper.”
The Giants, in need of outfielders and power, are heading in a new direction under Zaidi, and after an introductory AT&T Park news conference Wednesday, both Zaidi and CEO Larry Baer shed light on Harper, suggesting the Giants could pursue him if it’s deemed to make sense, but also noting it’s not the type of signing that made Zaidi’s Dodgers successful.
When asked about a “certain $300 million player,” Baer said, “There’s no restrictions coming in. Is that going to be what is the game-changer for the Giants in 2019, 2020, 2021? I don’t know. That’s a judgment (Zaidi) is going to need to make.
“He’s probably going to look at it as, one move in baseball doesn’t completely flip the switch. It would have to be in conjunction with other things.”
In the four years Zaidi helped run the Dodgers, they never doled out a contract of $100 million or more.
“It’s not the $300 million players who have been the difference-makers on his teams,” Baer said. “... A $300 million player in isolation, in a vacuum, it’s hard to see if that’s smart if you don’t feel like there are other pieces.” Boras buys none of that. “Bryce Harper is one of those few players who can pay for himself apart from his performance,” said Boras, implying Harper’s presence would increase a franchise’s value and revenue, helping to offset the cost of his contract.
The Giants have the resources to put in a competitive bid. Boras called them a top-five franchise.
“They have a successful model,” he said, “and I always tell Larry, ‘This fan base has rewarded you. You’ve got a stadium that’s paid for. You’ve got a rocket ship of a financial model.’
“So the Giants should be successful every year and can use free agency, trades and development in a way that allows them to compete. No different than the major market franchises because they are one.”
Harper grew up in Las Vegas, but Boras said the outfielder has no preference to return West. The Nationals and Phillies are expected to be bidders.
“I think he’s open geographically,” Boras said. “He’s lived on the East Coast a long time and enjoys it as well.”
Boras said he has a solid relationship with Zaidi and was looking forward to talks.
“I teased him. I said, ‘You’re a visionary. You’ve got a 415 area code before you even took the job,’ ” Boras said of Zaidi, who apparently has the same phone number from his A’s days.