Rimas Sports, the sports agency co-founded by pop star Bad Bunny, committed “a series of serious violations” in its dealings with baseball players, according to the Major League Baseball Players Association. The MLBPA detailed its allegations before a federal judge in Puerto Rico this week. reports Evan Drellich of the Athletic.
Among the improper actions perpetrated by Rimas were offering a $200,000 interest-free loan to a player the agency was trying to recruit as a client and offering a $19,500 gift to another player who signed with the organization.
Other incentives cited in a memo the MLBPA filed in court included Rimas’ representatives giving non-client players VIP tickets to Bad Bunny shows and access to a luxury suite at a Phoenix Suns game.
In April, the MLBPA revoked the certification of Rimas’s agent, William Arroyo, after investigating complaints from other agents about improper benefits provided to players whom the agency did not represent. Two of Rimas’ co-founders, Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda, were also prohibited from officially becoming agents who could represent MLBPA members.
The best-known client Rimas has signed is Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., who He reportedly signed with the agency in May. Other players Rimas has represented include Wilmer Flores of the San Francisco Giants, Francisco Álvarez of the New York Mets and Ronny Mauricio and Santiago Espinal of the Cincinnati Reds.
Rimas Sports, Bad Bunny’s sports agency signs EXCLUSIVE agreement with MLB superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. pic.twitter.com/BjolqYOdck
– Bunny Network (@badbunnynetwork) May 16, 2024
From a layman’s point of view, the incentives offered by Rimas don’t seem far-fetched compared to what other sports agencies have probably done to attract potential clients. Although perhaps there are formal protocols to follow to recruit and sign clients that Rimas was not following.
The argument, which was supported by an arbitrator, also appears to be that Rimas was going beyond what agencies can normally use when competing for players, especially if they are funded by Bad Bunny.The best-selling Latin artist in the history of the United States..
Rimas responded by arguing in federal court that its practices were being unfairly scrutinized “in a discriminatory, biased and predetermined investigation” aimed at putting the agency out of business. according to The Athletic report. Decertifying Arroyo and preventing Assad and Miranda from formally becoming agents amounts to a “death penalty” for the company, Rimas maintains.