Player agent Scott Boras has publicly called for an end to all proposition betting in Major League Baseball, raising concerns about how the practice could impact the perception of player integrity. Speaking on Wednesday during the annual General Managers Meetings, Boras emphasized the importance of maintaining trust in the fairness of the game.
“We want the players’ integrity never to be questioned,” Boras said, suggesting that prop bets—wagers on specific in-game occurrences rather than final scores—could create unnecessary scrutiny around player actions and decisions on the field.
His comments come amid a broader discussion within professional sports about the growing influence of legalized sports betting. Since the Supreme Court decision in 2018 to strike down the federal ban on sports wagering, leagues including MLB have increasingly partnered with betting companies and incorporated gambling elements into broadcasts and advertising. While league officials have maintained that integrity safeguards are in place, critics like Boras warn that the increasing presence of gambling could potentially compromise or appear to compromise the integrity of athletic competition.
Proposition bets, or props, allow fans to wager on events such as the number of strikeouts a pitcher may record, whether a batter will hit a home run, or even whether a game will start on time. Boras expressed concern that these types of bets could lead to undue speculation if outcomes appear unusual or unexpected, regardless of players’ actual intent or performance.
Although no specific MLB rule changes have been proposed in response to Boras’s remarks, his comments highlight a growing debate within the sport about balancing fan engagement with the sanctity of the game. As one of baseball’s most influential agents, representing numerous high-profile players, Boras’s views carry significant weight within league circles.
MLB has not yet issued an official response to Boras’s call to eliminate prop bets. The discussion is expected to continue as the league evaluates its ongoing relationship with sports betting in the years ahead.
