Mark Kotsay has inked a new deal with the Chicago White Sox on November 5th (15 days before he is slated to become a free agent and hit the open market).

According to RotoWorld.com (my #1 source for contract info), Kotsay and the Sox agreed to a 1-year, $1.5 million contract. This contract total was for the same amount that Kotsay made this past season. The thirty-three year old first baseman was acquired by the White Sox in a trade during the 2009 season with the Boston Red Sox for outfielder Brian Anderson.

Brian Anderson made near the league minimum in 2009 which is roughly around $400,000.

In 1993, Gilbert was sharing headlines with Scott Boras in publications like Sports Illustrated.  He was able to achieve record breaking deals for clients whose names you have heard a few times before: Bobby Bonilla, Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds.  He also represented George Brett.

Beverly Hills Sports Council (BHSC) still exists today, and over a decade ago, Gilbert was the head honcho at the agency.  He started the company with Jeff Borris and Rick Thurman, who along with Danny Lozano and Dan Horwitz, are still in charge of BHSC today.  And Gilbert did not pay much attention to the draft.  He left that chore for Scott Boras to handle, a competitor of Gilbert’s, who was even loathed by owners back then, sixteen years ago.  Boras used and continues to use a claiming negotiating approach, while Gilbert was known by owners as someone who could create value for both sides in a cooperative style.

In 1999, Gilbert retired and put his sports agent hat in his closet.  Immediately, he took on his current role of special assistant to Jerry Reinsdorf.

In 2002, Gilbert funded a baseball field in South Central L.A. that cost $1.5 million to build (now the home to MLB’s RBI Youth Program).  That is pennies compared to what he will have to pay to own the rights of the much larger Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Nik Lubisich

Nik earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon and was a two-time Northwest Conference player of the year in Baseball and an All-Conference pick in both baseball and basketball.

Nik and his team have found a niche in the Northwest, representing some of the top young talent in the last few drafts.  It was a pleasure interviewing Nik for this site.  The transcript is below.

Darren Heitner: What made you want to become a baseball agent?

Nik Lubisich: I became a baseball agent because I wanted to stay in the game in some facet after my playing career ended. I liked the idea of working with kids that are chasing something that I once did. I understand the value of a good agent having had two while I played and being your own boss isn’t a bad thing either!

Darren Heitner: What kind of competition exists in the Pacific Northwest, where your company is located?  Do you strictly recruit in that area?  Are you looking to expand to cover more ground?

Nik Lubisich: There is some competition here in the Northwest, mainly from other agencies located outside of the Northwest. Many send “runners” up here to try and lure them away from the Northwest. In Oregon, there isn’t much competition, but up in Seattle there are several agents working out of that city.  I do tend to stay and recruit strictly in the Northwest.  I may expand over time but enjoy working from the ground up.

Darren Heitner: How long have you been in the sports agent industry?  What has been the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Nik Lubisich: I have been in the industry since the winter of 2007.  I think the most valuable lesson I have learned is the most simplist: Treat people how you want to be treated. I have been in the other side of my business and I remember getting frustrated when I never heard from my agent or he didn’t follow through on what he said. In this business, you better back up what you say or you will lose your clients.

Darren Heitner: Tell us a little bit about the first client you signed. And what about the most recent player that has become a client?

Nik Lubisich: The first client I signed was Ehren Wassermann with the Chicago White Sox. It was a little strenuous in that he was represented by another firm. At the time, the “boat” wasn’t “rocking” so to speak, but he saw the potential and opportunity that lied ahead for him with my firm. The most recent would be the kids from our past draft class. Darrell Ceciliani is a good one in that he was drafted in the 4th round by the Mets and it has been fun watching him grow and play through his first year of rookie ball. He was the #2 player taken out of the Northwest and has the potential to be an outstanding baseball player. He is often compared to Jacoby Ellsbury as they coincidentally reside from the same town of Madras, OR.

Darren Heitner: With Spring Training and many Major League teams and their Minor league affiliates being far away from your office, how tough is it to meet with your clients face-to-face throughout the year?

Nik Lubisich: As many people will tell you, if you want to stay sane living in the Northwest, you better travel to the sun as often as possible! Several of my clients played in the Northwest league this summer so it was easy for me to get around and watch them play. The others, I had to hop a flight back East and catch them there. Spring Training isn’t too far away and I usually live in Phoenix for 6 weeks with past players and coaches that I know, as well as scouting new talent at the college tournaments, and seeing my clients.

Darren Heitner: How does spending 6 years in the Minors with the White Sox help you run your business?

Nik Lubisich: I think it serves as a tremendous advantage in that I know what kind of a road it is to be in the minors. And I don’t care what people say, it isn’t an easy road or as glamorous as people think. You have to be strong willed to get through it and have a lot of luck on your side. It is comforting to many families that they know I have been where their sons are going.

Darren Heitner: Do you represent any of your former teammates?

Nik Lubisich: I represent Ehren Wassermann. I have played with some very big stars in the majors but feel it inappropriate to chase them down and ask them to sign with me. If they reach out to me and need help, I am always there for them, but I don’t want them to feel like I am using our friendship and connections as a benefit. Ehren took a leap of faith with me because we were best friends while playing and I know he trusted everything I said I would do. He is happy to be with us and we are fortunate to have him as a client.

Darren Heitner: Can you tell us a little bit about some of the unique marketing deals you have been able to secure for your clients?

Nik Lubisich: I think the major marketing deals that we have rest in our sports camps. In the Northwest, it is important to me that our clients give back to their roots. We set up a business calld Future Stars Sports Camps (www.futurestarssportscamps) where kids can meet our clients and learn from their instruction through various camps and events. Each one of my cleints will have a camp in their name, in their hometown during the off-season. We handle the promoting of it and set up all the logistics. Proceeds from the camp are donated back to the hometown communities in the name of our client. They seem to like the camps and it is truly a win-win for everybody.

Darren Heitner: Anything else you would like to add?

Nik Lubisich: I think that about sums it up. Let me know if you have anything further for me. Thanks Darren.

Braves GM Frank Wren said that he wants to add two starting pitchers before the ’09 season. After offering the San Diego Padres a trade for Jake Peavy, the deal fell through and ATL is moving on.

So this brings us to the meat of the story. The Braves will be getting starting pitcher Javier Vazquez and reliever Boone Logan from the Chicago White Sox. ESPN’s Peter Gammons was told by a baseball source that the deal reportedly includes four other players. Among the Braves players going to the White Sox are JoJo Reyes, Brett Lillibridge and another prospect.

Javier Vazquez, 32, had a 12-16 record with the White Sox last season and a 4.67 ERA in 33 starts. He struck out 200 in 208.5 innings.

Logan was 4-4 with a 5.70 ERA last season for the White Sox.

Reyes went 3-11 with a 5.81 ERA last season in 22 games for Atlanta.

Brett Lillibridge, a minor league player for AAA Richmond in the Braves organization, hit .220 with four home runs and 39 RBIs.

Source: ESPN.com (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3740201)

Last season the White Sox signed infielder Alexei Ramirez who, not soon after, became their starting second basemen. Ramirez batted .290 with 21 home runs and 77 RBI. He finished runner up in the AL Rookie of the Year race.

Jaime Torres, Viciedo’s agent, was asked if he thinks his client could go right to the majors. Torres replied, “Personally, I think he can. I think I know the Cuban players and their talent.”

In the ’08 season (153 games) with the White Sox, Swisher hit .219 with 24 home runs. Swisher is noted as a good candidate for first base with the Yanks, who declined Jason Giambi’s 2009 option worth $22-million.

Swisher has 3 years left on his 5-year $26.75 million deal. He is scheduled to make $5.3-million in 2009, $6.75-million in 2010 and $9-million in 2011. Also included in his deal is a $10.25-million club option for 2012, with a $1-million buyout.

Texeira, the 22-year-old relief pitcher had a 6-3 record along with 21 saves and a 1.33 ERA in 51 combined appearances with Class A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham.

Playing only 41 games in Chicago after being traded from Cincinnati, Griffey now is out of a job. Rest assured, he will be picked up by someone.

In 41 games with the White Sox, Griffey scored 16 runs, had 34 hits, 3 home runs, and had a batting average of .260

In his career, Griffey has a combined batting average of .288 with 611 home runs.

I was correct, but the Danks’ allegiance to Boras soon faded into the California sunset. Shortly after the conclusion of the draft, Jordan and his brother John dropped Boras and formed a relationship with Jeff Berry of CAA Sports, who will advise Jordan and serve as John’s agent. No word as to why the brothers Danks decided to exchange Boras for Berry, but it may have something to do with Jordan being picked in the 7th round after being projected as a top 3 round pick prior to the draft.

Jordan Danks is an outfielder who can also perform as a pitcher. The lefty stands 6′5 and weighs in at 200lbs. He is originally from Round Rock, Texas and attended the University of Texas for three years after declining the signing bonus offered by the White Sox after the club selected him in the 19th round in 2005. We shall see if the White Sox present Jordan an offer that he and Berry find to be acceptable…or else he is back to UT for his senior year.

The 855 players on Opening-Day rosters and the DL averaged $3.15 million, up 7.1 percent from last year’s starting average of $2.94 million.

The median salary is $1 million, exemplifying the fact that the superstars are skewing the average salary mark to the high $3 million figure. Most major league players are making much less than $1 million per year. Still, 434 players will make more than $1 million this year, which is a new record number.

Here is a quick list of the teams with the highest payrolls, bumping up those average player salaries:

1. New York Yankees (AL East) – $209.1 million
2. Detroit Tigers (AL Central) – $138.7 million
3. New York Mets (NL East) – $138.3 million
4. Boston Red Sox (AL East) – $133.4 million
5. Chicago White Sox (AL Central) – $121.2 million
6. Los Angeles Angels (AL West) – $119.2 million
7. Chicago Cubs (NL Central) – $118.6 million
8. Los Angeles Dodgers (NL West) – $118.5 million
9. Seattle Mariners (AL West) – $118 million
10. Atlanta Braves (NL East) – $102.4 million

Six out of the top ten payrolls come from the AL. Four out of the top five are AL teams. Represent a player who is bound to turn into a superstar warranting top dollar figures from his team? May want to try to get him onto one of the top five teams listed above. One team to stay away from would be the Florida Marlins, with a total payroll of $21.8 million. Then again, they beat the #3 payroll, New York Mets, last night.