Bo McKinnis is a Major League Baseball sports agent. He was a student manager of the baseball team at Mississippi State University. While attending graduate business school at Vanderbilt University, he was asked by a Mississippi State teammate, Pete Young (who pitched in the Major Leagues with the Montreal Expos), to serve as his sports agent. He has gone on to represent over 100 Major League players, including Paul Byrd, R. A. Dickey, Sonny Gray, and Rusty Greer. [1] [2] He has represented over 20 first round draft picks, including Dewon Brazelton (third overall in 2001) and David Price (first overall in 2007). [3]
In December 2015, McKinnis negotiated the largest contract in Major League Baseball history for a pitcher when David Price received a seven-year $217 million contract from the Boston Red Sox. This also tied the record for largest average salary ever received by any player at $31 million per year, tying with Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers. This contract is also the largest contract ever in the history of the Boston Red Sox franchise. [4]
In 2012, McKinnis became the first, and only, agent ever to represent both Cy Young Award winners in the same year. David Price won the award in the American League and R. A. Dickey won the award in the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs. [5]
In January 2015, McKinnis negotiated the largest one-year contract in the history of Major League Baseball salary arbitration when David Price received a 2015 salary of $19,750,000 from the Detroit Tigers. [6]
McKinnis is one of only two agents to have twice set the record for the largest signing bonus ever given to a drafted pitcher. In 2001, he set the record for the largest signing bonus ever given to a drafted pitcher with Dewon Brazelton receiving $4.2 million from the Tampa Bay Rays. In 2007, McKinnis broke his own record when David Price received an even larger signing bonus, $5.6 million, also from the Rays. [7]
McKinnis has been written about and referenced in four books: Michael Lewis's 2003 book, Moneyball; Paul Byrd's 2008 book, Free Byrd; R. A. Dickey's 2012 autobiography, Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball; and Shi Davidi's 2013 book, Great Expectations: The Lost Toronto Blue Jays Season. [8]
In addition, McKinnis became the first sports agent to ever be featured in the Sporting News 125-year history in the column "On the Agent Side" in its January 17, 2011 issue. [9]
John Andrew Smoltz, nicknamed "Smoltzie" and "Marmaduke", is an American former baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2009, all but the last year with the Atlanta Braves. An eight-time All-Star, Smoltz was part of a celebrated trio of starting pitchers, along with Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who propelled Atlanta to perennial pennant contention in the 1990s, highlighted by a championship in the 1995 World Series. He won the National League (NL) Cy Young Award in 1996 after posting a record of 24–8, equaling the most victories by an NL pitcher since 1972. Though predominantly known as a starter, Smoltz was converted to a reliever in 2001 after his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and spent four years as the team's closer before returning to a starting role. In 2002, he set a National League record with 55 saves and became only the second pitcher in history to record both a 20-win season and a 50-save season. He is the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins and 150 saves. He is also the only pitcher in Major League history to record both 200 wins, 150 saves, and 3,000 strikeouts.
Marlon Jerrard Byrd is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. He was an All-Star in 2010 with the Cubs.
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Dewon Cortez Brazelton is an American former professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played professionally for the Tampa Bay Rays and the San Diego Padres. He last pitched in the major leagues in 2006.
Robert Allen Dickey is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.
David Taylor Price is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Price was selected first overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in September 2008. He also played for the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Frederick Alfred Porcello III is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets.
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Corey Scott Kluber is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox. He made his MLB debut in 2011 as a member of the Indians. A power pitcher, Kluber achieved high strikeout rates through a two-seam sinker and a breaking ball that variously resembled a slider and a curveball.
Lucas Frost Giolito is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Washington Nationals, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, and Cleveland Guardians.
Carlos Antonio Rodón is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played MLB for the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants. Rodón is a two-time MLB All-Star.
The 2013 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the franchise's 127th season as a member of the National League, 132nd season overall, and 13th season at PNC Park. The regular season began at home with a loss against the Chicago Cubs on April 1 and ended with a win at Great American Ball Park against the Cincinnati Reds on September 29. In their first winning season since 1992, the Pirates finished in second place in the National League Central with 94 wins and 68 losses.
The 2013 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 37th season of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays franchise, and the 24th full season of play at the Rogers Centre. Despite high expectations heading into the season, the Blue Jays finished 74–88, in last place in the American League East.
The 2013 Cleveland Indians season was the 113th season for the franchise. The team, managed by Terry Francona, began their season on April 2. They advanced to the postseason and lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALWC Game.
Sean Anthony Manaea is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants. He played college baseball at Indiana State University.
Jack Rafe Flaherty is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles. Flaherty was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2017.
The 2015 San Francisco Giants season was the Giants' 133rd year in Major League Baseball, their 58th year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season, and their 16th at AT&T Park. The team entered the season as the defending World Series champions and finished in second place in the National League West for the second straight year, but missed the playoffs with a record of 84–78 (.519).
Corbin Brian Burnes is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Garrett Nicholas Cooper is an American professional baseball first baseman and right fielder in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox. Cooper was an All-Star in 2022.
Shane Robert Bieber is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos baseball team as a walk-on. He was drafted by the Indians in the fourth round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. Bieber made his MLB debut with Cleveland in 2018, was named an All-Star in 2019 and 2021, and received the American League's 2020 Cy Young Award.