While I would never claim to completely know and understand how Boras works and thinks, I have gotten to a place where I give more than grudging admiration for how he works and the money he gets his players. I have to admire that.
It is also pretty common knowledge that he has long used Jon Heyman as a communications tool, something that I suspect Heyman readily understands and accepts. This is why I seriously doubt the Phils will get Arrieta nor do I think Heyman's recent tweet about the Phils and Arrieta were eve meant for the Phillies...I believe they were meant for the Nationals.
It is Washington that Boras is angling for and by suggesting that Arrieta and Boras are talking to another NL East team it was meant to get Washington's attention.
While we all scoff and say, "why would Washington care what the Phillies do?" we must remember Boras always plays the long game..,heck he sold Werth on a long term vision and if viewed logically it is the Phillies that are likely to press the Nats in future years. IF the Phils were to get Hamels eventually [and I believe they will] and IF they were to sign Arrieta [I don't believe this but think Boras wants the Nats to believe it] these two combined with Nola and any combination of two of the 6-7 youngsters coming down the pipe is an impressive staff.
The Phils are not bankrupt here in the pitching musical chairs game. There are still 3 free agent pitchers out there and by my count there really are only three chairs left...Phils, Nats and Brewers. Math tells me, and tells Matt K, that te Phils are likely to get one of them, and probably at their price.
I think it will all sort itself out in the next week to 10 days. And I think Arrieta is a Nat.
