Agent Scott Boras is holding Major League Baseball (MLB) responsible for the injury sustained by his client, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant.
In a match against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bryant slipped off the first base while running out a play and was later diagnosed with an ankle injury (sprain). The full extent of the injury will be determined once MRI results arrive.
Boras argued that the MLB has taken no action to address the issue of of wet bags as safety hazards for players, which led to injury of Bryant. Bryant is Boras' second former league MVP client who injured himself on a wet base. In 2017, Bryce Harper hyperextended his knee after slipping on a base.
Boras said "What have they done since Harper? The answer is nothing. They’re focused on other factors, economic factors, all things relating to how they can administer the game, and yet the safety of players and resolution of this issue has gone without any attention. The integrity of our game is going to damaged when the safety of players is not at the forefront, and Major League Baseball has dropped the ball on the wet bag subject."
Boras continued "They have completely skirted this issue. They had an MVP player having an MVP season dramatically get hurt and miss time. It affects playoff races and the entire safety of players, and the integrity of the game. When they are very diligent to get umpires and teams to play during rain, during precipitation, trying to get the games played. There’s been no discussion, no resolution, absolutely nothing done in this area except the player is to bear the burden of slippery and wet bags."
In response to Boras' claims, an MLB spokesman said that there are no safer options available and argued "To date no one has come up with a bag that has proven to be better safety-wise than the bag we use now."
The Cubs lost the match against the Cardinals, bringing their total to six straight losses, falling four games behind in the National League wildcard race.
