2011 MLB Draft: 3 Top Contracts Scott Boras Has Orchestrated

Scott Boras.

To ball clubs across the nation he is known as the most hated man in baseball. To the players, he is the man you can't afford to live without. Gerrit Cole, the newest member of the Pittsburgh Pirates, can attest to that. Under the guidance of Boras, he positioned himself as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 First Year Player Draft.

With Boras as his agent, the young pitcher out of UCLA is almost assured to land a contract somewhere between the absurd and the ridiculous. Knowing he negotiated the monster contracts that each changed the game of Baseball for these players, Cole should sleep very well tonight.

Greg Maddux

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 01: Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs sits in the dugout before the spring training game against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium on March 1, 2011 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

In 1997, Greg Maddux signed a contract with the Braves, negotiated by Boras, worth $57.5 million over five years. For Maddux, it was the payday many feel he deserved for his stellar play from the mound.

For Boras it was his ticket to the table. He was the first agent in MLB history to negotiate a contract worth over $50 million.   

Kevin Brown

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

26 Feb 1999: Pitcher Kevin Brown #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses for a studio portrait on Photo Day during Spring Training at Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport

In 1998, Boras topped his feat the previous year by making Kevin Brown the highest paid player in MLB history and the first player to sign a contract for over $100 million (seven years, $105 million).

This was unfortunate for Brown as his career didn't work out the way many hoped. During the seven years, he could only manage about nine wins a season due to multiple injuries.

Alex Rodriguez

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

ANAHEIM, CA - JUNE 5: Third baseman Alex Rodriguez #13 of the New York Yankees signals during the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on June 5, 2011 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The Yankees won 5-3. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty

Then there's Alex Rodriguez. In 2007, Scott Boras negotiated a contract with clauses for changing history.

Eclipsing the home run record would have landed A-Rod $305 million. His record setting contract was signed for 10 years and $275 million. If you ask this writer, that's not bad to have to settle for and makes Scott Boras a man players truly can't live without.

But, as always this is just my opinion. Drop me a line and let me know yours. I will be with you through the course of the draft and look forward to the spirited debates and as always, thanks for posting.