Boras, who represents free agents such as Matt Holliday, Johnny Damon and Adrian Beltre, predicted Tuesday that the free agent market will be vibrant and the top of the class will receive mega-contracts.

"We hear this every year," Boras said of MLB's forecasts that spending will be down. "Based upon their bad economic forecasts of last year, I won't invest in their stocks of choice."

Boras met Tuesday with teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals who are trying to re-sign Holliday. Boras did not divulge what he is seeking for Holliday but called him a franchise player, and compared him to Mark Teixeira, who signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the New York Yankees last winter.

Holliday and outfielder Jason Bay are considered the top two free agent position players in a weak market.

"You know the two big names," San Francisco Giants GM Brian Sabean said. "And at the end of the day, it's going to be a high-stakes poker game."

Enlarge By Gary A. Vasquez, US Presswire Agent Scott Boras: "We hear this every year."