Sources: Bad Bunny-led agency faces sanctions
William Arroyo, the main baseball agent for the Bad Bunny-led agency Rimas Sports, had his Major League Baseball Players Association certification revoked after a union investigation into complaints from other agents about improper benefits provided to players, industry sources told ESPN.
The MLBPA informed Arroyo’s clients of its decision, according to an email obtained by ESPN on Friday.
“At Rimas Sports, we uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity of our industry,” the company said in a statement. “Out of respect for an ongoing process within the context of the MLBPA Agent Regulations, we will refrain from making any comments at this time. We remain committed to continue serving our clients with excellence.”
Arroyo and Rimas Sports have the right to appeal, but it is not known whether Arroyo will challenge the decertification. An MLBPA representative declined to comment. Arroyo and prominent Rimas executive Jonathan Miranda did not respond to messages left by ESPN seeking comment.
Within one week of Rimas’ official launch in mid-April 2023, the MLBPA received evidence the company had offered players cash and gifts to switch agencies, according to sources. Section 5 of the MLBPA’s agent regulations states that no agent “shall provide, cause to provide or promise to provide any money or any other thing of value to any player, or any person related to or associated with such player” for the purposes of persuading him to join or remain with an agency.
Bad Bunny, the world-famous Puerto Rican rapper and singer, launched the sports management agency in April 2023 alongside his manager, Noah Assad, who founded the independent record label Rimas Entertainment. Miranda was brought in as president and Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez, one of the most popular players from Puerto Rico, was hired to serve as an ambassador. Rodriguez is no longer involved with the agency, according to a Rangers spokesperson. Rodriguez currently serves as a special assistant with the Rangers.
With the launch, Bad Bunny — the stage name of Benito Antonio Martinez Ocasio — followed in the footsteps of hip-hop icon Jay-Z, who launched Roc Nation’s sports management division in 2013 and signed major clients across sports, such as the NBA’s LaMelo Ball, the NFL’s Saquon Barkley and MLB’s CC Sabathia.
Rimas Sports focused on young Latin American baseball players, initially bringing in New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, Cincinnati Reds infielder Santiago Espinal, Mets infield prospect Ronny Mauricio and Los Angeles Dodgers catching prospect Diego Cartaya.
Alvarez declined to comment on the matter.
“I don’t want to talk about that,” Alvarez told ESPN in Spanish on Friday.
“Together we have accomplished great things in the music industry, and now we are ready to take on the world of sports,” Miranda wrote in an email last summer. “In addition, [Bad Bunny] is an invaluable asset to us, embodies our values and goals, and his stellar career represents the success of our model. Our approach is based on talent and a unique vision, with a team of professionals behind the scenes in charge of making it happen.”
In late February, Tovar, 22, signed a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension that included an eighth-year club option and bought out three years of free agency. It’s the largest deal the company has negotiated to date. Rimas added veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario to its roster during the offseason before Arroyo negotiated a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals in March. Rosario made the Nationals’ roster and will earn $2 million.
Though Miranda said Rimas Sports is a standalone company independent of Rimas Entertainment, cross-pollination potential between the two entities is a draw for players. Alvarez and Tovar were on a panel sponsored by Rimas Sports at Billboard’s Latin Music Week this past October in Miami, a high-profile opportunity for two players coming off their rookie seasons. Alvarez and Tovar also released curated playlists on Spotify as part of a mixtape series by the music streamer.
An email sent by the MLBPA to Rimas Sports’ baseball clients also named other Rimas executives who are not certified agents and are thus barred from acting on the players’ behalf. Those executives are expected to be denied their requests to obtain certification, sources said.
Hard-throwing rookie Jacob Misiorowski is a National League All-Star replacement, giving the Milwaukee Brewers right-hander a chance to break Paul Skenes‘ record for the fewest big league appearances before playing in the Midsummer Classic.
Misiorowski was named Friday night to replace Chicago Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd, who will be unavailable for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Atlanta because he is scheduled to start Saturday at the New York Yankees.
The 23-year-old Misiorowski has made just five starts for the Brewers, going 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA while averaging 99.3 mph on his fastball, with 89 pitches that have reached 100 mph.
If he pitches at Truist Park, Misiorowski will make it consecutive years for a player to set the mark for fewest big league games before an All-Star showing.
Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander getting ready for his second All-Star appearance, had made 11 starts in the majors when he was chosen as the NL starter for last year’s All-Star Game at Texas. He pitched a scoreless inning.
“I’m speechless,” said a teary-eyed Misiorowski, who said he was given the news a few minutes before the Brewers’ 8-3 victory over Washington. “It’s awesome. It’s very unexpected and it’s an honor.”
Misiorowski is the 30th first-time All-Star and 16th replacement this year. There are now 80 total All-Stars.
“He’s impressive. He’s got some of the best stuff in the game right now, even though he’s a young pitcher,” said Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is a starting AL outfielder for his seventh All-Star nod. “He’s going to be a special pitcher in this game for a long time so I think he deserved it and it’s going be pretty cool for him and his family.”
Carlos Rodón, Carlos Estévez and Casey Mize were named replacement pitchers on the AL roster.
The New York Yankees‘ Rodón, an All-Star for the third time in five seasons, will replace teammate Max Fried for Tuesday’s game in Atlanta. Fried will be unavailable because he is scheduled to start Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
In his final start before the All-Star game, Rodón allowed four hits and struck out eight in eight innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cubs.
“This one’s a little special for me,” said Rodón, an All-Star in 2021 and ’22 who was 3-8 in his first season with the Yankees two years ago before rebounding. “I wasn’t good when I first got here, and I just wanted to prove that I wasn’t to going to give up and just put my best foot forward and try to win as many games as I can.”
The Kansas City Royals‘ Estévez replaces Texas’ Jacob deGrom, who is scheduled to start at Houston on Saturday night. Estévez was a 2023 All-Star when he was with the Los Angeles Angels.
Mize takes the spot held by Boston‘s Garrett Crochet, who is scheduled to start Saturday against Tampa Bay. Mize gives the Tigers six All-Stars, most of any team and tied for the franchise record.
Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia will replace Tampa Bay‘s Brandon Lowe, who went on the injured list with left oblique tightness. The additions of Estévez and Garcia give the Royals four All-Stars, matching their 2024 total.
The Seattle Mariners announced center fielder Julio Rodríguez will not participate, and he was replaced by teammate Randy Arozarena. Rodríguez had been voted onto the AL roster via the players’ ballot. The Mariners, who have five All-Stars, said Rodríguez will use the break to “recuperate, rest and prepare for the second half.”
Arozarena is an All-Star for the second time. He started in left field for the AL two years ago, when he was with Tampa Bay. Arozarena was the runner-up to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the 2023 Home Run Derby.
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, a first-time All-Star, is replacing Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, who is scheduled to start Saturday night at Arizona. Rasmussen is 7-5 with a 2.82 ERA in 18 starts.
San Diego added a third NL All-Star reliever in lefty Adrián Morejón, who replaces Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. The Phillies’ right-hander is scheduled to start at San Diego on Saturday night. Morejón entered the weekend with a 1.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
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