Anatomy of a Deal Gone Bad

The Maddux Fiasco
Part I: The Chicago Bids
a baseballyarn squandered opportunity
  Part I                             Part II
Part III
Part IV                             Part V
Maddux finishes the 1991 season at 15-11. At the end of next year (1992) he will
become a free agent. Player and Team seek to set up a deal before then.
  • The negotiations involve four distinct parties, each of them representing a different interest
  • The Player
    Greg Maddux
  • Wants what's best for himself
  • The Agent
    Scott Boras
  • Wants most dough he can get
  • The Baseball Exec
    Larry Himes
  • Wants what's best for his team
  • The Corporate Exec
    Stanton Cook (+ others)
  • Wants best bottom line
  • First Attempt (Dec. 3, 1991)

  • Baseball Exec makes offer to Player
  • $5,000,000 a year for 5 years
  • Largest total amount ever offered a pitcher
  • Player and Agent do not respond
  • Second Attempt (All Star Game, 1992)

  • Corporate Exec(s) make same offer to Agent
  • ($5,000,000 a year for 5 years)
  • Agent declines offer, says Player
  • deserves chance to test the market
  • Third Attempt (Shortly after All Star Game)

  • Baseball Exec sweetens deal
  • Offers additional $500,000 a year for 5 years
  • (Total value of package = 27.5 million)
  • Agent says No, wants to test the market
  • Fourth Attempt (End of 1992 Season)

  • Baseball Exec and Corporate Execs fly. . .
  • . . . to California to meet Agent
  • (Player is in Hawaii playing golf)
  • Agent: "We want to test the market"
  • Maddux finishes the 1992 season with a 20-11 record. He becomes a free agent on October 26, 1992.
    Home       Start Larry Himes (Cub GM) More CubsStuff Features