Peter Abraham has a nice post summarizing the player/agent relationship. The bottom line, he says, is that Boras works for A-Rod. Don't blame Boras for A-Rod opting out, wanting more money, etc. If A-Rod didn't want to opt out, he could have told Boras and then they would have negotiated with the Yankees. Boras gives him advice, of course, but that doesn't mean he has to take it.

Ron Villone is a Boras client. We were talking about it a few months ago and he told me that on several occasions during his career, Boras wanted him to sign with a certain team and he didn’t. “At some point you have to do what is best for you and your family,” Villone said. “You’re a man, you make your own decision.”

Villone is divorced and has two children who live in New Jersey with his ex wife. He made a deal to stay with the Yankees this season and turned down better offers because he wanted to be close to home. He even started the season in the minors.