Giants’ Farhan Zaidi Still Has Sense of Humor After Negotiating Three Deals With Scott Boras

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi addressed the media during a Wednesday press conference to introduce two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who signed with the team Tuesday.

The addition of Snell marks the third Scott Boras client to join the organization this offseason, and Zaidi opened the press conference by joking about the degree of difficulty that came with negotiating with baseball’s most renowned agent.

“I actually just got off the phone with the White House. I called to ask if negotiating three deals with Scott Boras in one offseason qualifies you for a presidential medal of freedom. They said they’d get back to me,” joked Zaidi.

Snell made the move to San Francisco on a two-year, $62 million deal which includes an opt-out clause after the first season. In addition to Snell, who is represented by Boras, the Giants added two other Boras clients this offseason in star infielder Matt Chapman, on a three-year, $54 million contract, and KBO phenom Jung Hoo Lee, on a six-year, $113 million deal. 

Boras has a reputation as one of the toughest negotiators in the business, and he certainly didn’t make things easy for San Francisco even though the team signed a trio of players he represents.

With more than $225 million doled out to Boras clients this offseason, Zaidi joked that the feat was deserving of some significant recognition.