The Major League Baseball Players’ Association petitioned a New York trial court last week to confirm an arbitration award against Rimas Sports executives in a move that draws attention to the competitive, if not cutthroat, world of player agents.
MLBPA found that agent William Arroyo and two prospective agents, Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, violated MLBPA regulations that prohibit inducements and compel cooperation with MLBPA investigations.
Evidence indicated they provided assorted items—including tickets to concerts and NBA games, complimentary transportation, free lodging and even loans—to induce players to join the Puerto Rico-based Rimas Sports, which is backed by music artist Bad Bunny and has represented Ronny Mauricio, Wilmer Flores and Santiago Espinal and other players since launching last year.
The agents were also accused of trying to obstruct MLBPA’s investigation by providing misleading responses and refusing to turn over documents and text messages.
In April, MLBPA imposed a $400,000 fine, revoked Arroyo’s agent certification, barred Arroyo from reapplying for five years, denied agent certification for Assad and Miranda and banned them from reapplying for five years. The trio invoked their right under MLBPA regulations to appeal the discipline to a neutral arbitrator. Arbitrator Ruth M. Moscovitch presided over a handful of hearings during September and October. Eight witnesses testified, and 228 exhibits were introduced.
Arroyo, Assad and Miranda argued they were not “consciously aware of wrongdoing” since they were a “young agency trying to get started in a highly regulated field with complicated technical regulations and distinctions.” They also maintained the players at issue weren’t harmed by free tickets and other benefits and wanted Arroyo to keep representing them.
