The Rimas Sports Agency has filed a federal lawsuit against the MLB Players Association in United States District Court in Puerto Rico, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. The lawsuit is related to recent sanctions that the union placed on the agency.
It was reported in April of 2023 that the sports management agency had been launched by three individuals affiliated with the Rimas Entertainment music label. Those three were Rimas Entertainment CEO Noah Assad, his client Bad Bunny and Rimas executive Jonathan Miranda.
Almost exactly one year later, in April of 2024, it was reported by various outlets that the agency was facing sanctions from the MLBPA for violating agency regulations. Multiple other agencies filed complaints against Rimas, alleging that the firm had been offering gifts such as new cars or large sums of cash to players as an inducement to switch their representation. Additionally, individuals who were not yet certified as agents represented themselves as such and acted in that capacity.
[Related: When Agents Get Played]
Per the reporting from last month, it was expected that those individuals were not going to be certified as a result of the complaints while William Arroyo had his certification revoked. Back in April, Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reported that Michael Velasquez and Arroyo were believed to be the only two certified agents with Rimas.
According to Passan’s report from today, Rimas initially took their complaints to an arbiter, who turned them down. This 27-page complaint seeks a temporary restraining order and injunction against the penalties imposed by the union. The suit charges that the MLBPA “exceeded the scope of its statutory authority under the National Labor Relations Act.”
According to the suit, Velasquez was threatened with decertification and quit the company. With Velasquez quitting and Arroyo having his certification revoked, that apparently left Rimas with no one with the right to represent players. Per the lawsuit, entertainment attorneys Oswaldo Rossi, John Baldivia and Jimmy Barnes were seeking certification but were told by an MLBPA lawyer that “certifications will be conditioned on your agreement not to work for or with Rimas Sports, represent Rimas Sports clients.” The suit describes this as an “unprecedented condition imposed on them (that) is not part of the MLBPA Regulations” and says that “the intended effect of the MLBPA’s actions was precisely to eliminate the Rimas Companies from participating altogether in the sports agency market for MLB and MiLB players.”
It also accuses the MLBPA of “blanketly prohibiting any MLBPA certified agents from affiliating with Rimas Sports and Rimas Entertainment in any capacity.” They say this will prevent Rimas Entertainment, the non-sports part, from “contracting with clients who may wish to secure branding, sponsorship or endorsement deals” and that “these restrictions extend well beyond the scope of the MLBPA’s authority to regulate its agents.” Topps, the card company, evidently told Rimas that they were unable to discuss sponsorship deals relating to their clients.
Prior to the sanctions, Rimas was able to attract some recognizable big league names to its roster, including Francisco Alvarez, Ezequiel Tovar, Wilmer Flores and his brother Wilmer Flores. The most notable contract Rimas completed in the year after their forming was the seven-year, $63.5MM extension for Tovar. The lawsuit lists the inability to continue negotiating an extension for Alvarez among the harms done to the company by the MLBPA, as well as losing the opportunity to sign Ronald Acuña Jr.
This is my brother Darryl and my other brother Darryl!
Oh, memories of the Bob Newhart show. That was always funny.
When Verizon offers me a new phone for switching to them from T Mobile is it against the rules? Of course it isn’t because that’s capitalism in a free market society. MLB doesn’t understand this sort of stuff because they have a legal monopoly I suppose. But this is nonsense.
Repeating something that is obviously WRONG doesn’t make it correct and since the you refuse to read any articles let me explain it in terms even YOU can understand Joel P.
It. Is. Against. The. Law. For. Agents.
Is that simple enough? Can you understand that.
Oh I get it. You are mad because I criticized the Padres offseason months ago that’s why you are passionately arguing with me here today.
Ok well at least I understand your motivation now……
Do you not have anything better to do? Go outside and get some sun and touch the grass.
Do you care to discuss the topic or did I hurt your feelings last year about something?
Weird
I addressed this misconception above. The free* phones aren’t really free, they are billed for each month, and, a corresponding credit discount is given off the cost of the service plan to offset the device charge.
Additionally, if you want to examine phone companies in detail, they’re even prohibited once again by net neutrality rules after the recent reauthorization as to what free “perks” can be built into phone plans.
All of which are part of the customary line of business Verizon is in to begin with – communications services and equipment.
If Chevrolet wants a player to be a spokesperson and offers a free car for the endorsement, thats OK because Chevrolet is in the business of making and selling cars, and, the spokesperson is providing a service in kind via the endorsements making it a payment.
There’s inducements, there’s payments, both OK, then there are *bribes* which never are, not in the U.S.A.
Who said the agents were bribing players???? The only person who used the word bribe was a poster here in the comment section. Nobody else used that word. You are making things up as you go
The article said specifically it was citing the gifting of cars (and surely not 20 uear old used hyundais) – which would meet the criteria of a bribe – or large sums of cash – which would either be a bribe, or a kickback, depending how you see it.
In no terms could the large sums of cash, given upfront as an inducement to switch agencies, be able to be classified a rebate as no monies were yet earned by rimas as commission on any deals – mlb/milb contracts, sponsorships/endorsements, or otherwise both because a) it was as inducement for representation changes, and, b) agencies only recieve their commissions as players get paid.
Article never used the word bribe. Not once you interpreted that because another poster said bribe.
You don’t know all the details. Stop pretending you do.
And you do?
I go off the facts as presented. I also make my own interpretations and conclusions. Here’s some help for you:
“Bribe
Definitions from Oxford Languages
verb
persuade (someone) to act in one’s favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
“an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence”
Similar:
buy off
pay off
suborn
give an inducement to
corrupt
grease someone’s palm
give someone a backhander
give someone a sweetener
keep someone sweet
get at
fix
square
nobble
noun
a sum of money or other inducement offered or given to bribe someone.
“lawmakers were caught accepting bribes to bring in legalized gambling””
So there’s the dictionary definition. I say gifting cars or large sums of money to induce changing agencies meets the definition.
The whole business of being a sports agent is basically bribing players. To act as if what they did is a serious crime is intentionally ignoring reality.
Again I am tired of talking about this. If there was no case the lawyers wouldn’t be involved. Wait and see what happens.
MLBPA seems shady Af here. you can’t basically hold someone’s certification hostage, telling people who they can and can’t work with. This sounds like some old world mob tactics. Probably coming down from Big Don Boras..I kid on that part but not the rest. Shady.
Boras is mad his lame tactics didn’t work this year and he needs a 13th mansion so yeah he probably complained.
Let’s make this simple since you are not getting what this is all about..
It. Is. Against. The. MLBPA Rules. AND. Federal Law. For. Agents.
Rimas signed an agreement with the MLBPA to represent MLB players. That agreement included NOT bribing players to leave other agencies which is what they have been found by the MLBPA to have been doing. There is a specific percentage of player compensation that an agent can earn for representing an MLB player. That rule is in place to protect players. By bribing them to change agencies, Rimas went above that percentage and BROKE the agreement with the MLBPA.
Part of that agreement is not breaking federal laws concerning agents. What Rimas did is against federal law for agents on two counts. Not just for agents representing baseball players. For ALL agents in any field. #1 – Bribing players and #2 – having people that are not certified claiming to be agents and acting as the representative of a player in negotiations. RIMAS broke their agreement with the MLBPA and violated federal law.
NOW do you understand? Or you going to be like Blackpink/Joel P and continue to argue the point?
How does this nonsense law protect players? How does not allowing agencies to compete for players by giving them more money protect the players???? Explain that.
Agencies can compete for players – offer better fees and terms, provide more responsive service, obtain better outcomes – thats all fair game and how agents retain business.
These rules and laws protect players by ensuring the people who hold themselves out as competent to represent are, indeed, just that. If someone didn’t complete med school, residency, etc and called themselves your surgeon, without being approved by the licensing board, should they be allowed to give out free mac books to anyone agreeing having surgery with them just so they can bill an insurance company for doing the surgery? So what if they weren’t *completely* competent, they could do some stuff? It’s free competition right? OF COURSE NOT!
If you want to enter an industry you follow the rules. If you don’t, you get penalized and shut down. It’s as true in manufacturing as it is in services like representation.
You’re arguing with someone that thinks the Marlins are perennial world series contenders and have done a good job, and have no reason to trade off pieces…
The Marlins made the playoffs last year. Were they supposed to have a fire sale and get rid of everyone before the season started?
Why can’t people just have a conversation about the topic instead of making it weird bringing up things that were discussed weeks or months ago?
It’s pertinent b/c you’re clearly just being a contrarian for fake cool points
I have not interacted with Blackpink/Joel P that I remember and I have never muted someone here….but after his rantings there is a first time for everything. There is an archaic English word that fits him well….clodpoll.
Tell you what. I will mute you. Never even seen you post before today and now I won’t ever again. Peace. Thanks for the speech.
toss the lawsuit out
Idk that MLB has anything to do with it. The player’s union is listed as the defendant in the suit, not the league.
What difference does that really make?
The MLB PA creates rules for those that represent their players. This agency broke those. The players as a collective decided they don’t want an agency like that representing players.
If you have a problem with the rules, get them changed. Breaking them and then saying, “but I don’t like those rules” is how a toddler operates.
The players didn’t decide that the union did but they are in bed with the owners and people who run MLB.
Breaking ridiculous rules is exactly why we are now having this discussion. That’s why there is now a lawsuit and that is how change happens. That’s the truth. Figure it out.
“…the union did but they are in bed with the owners and people who run MLB.”
Ummmmm, no. Just… no. Not even close.
Dude the union and mlbpa work in concert with each other and have mutual interests. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous.
Not trying to be snarky here Joel, but can you give me one decent and/or recent example of when and/or how the MLBPA and MLB have worked in cahoots with each other? They’re bitter “rivals” that never see eye-to-eye on *anything*…
They work together all the time. Not because they want to because they have to. It’s the nature of the situation.
Hey man you and all the other Padres fans can keep defending this nonsense for reasons only you could explain. I know right and wrong when I see it. I saw how when Roc Nation showed up they tried the same kind of nonsense with them. I saw when the cheating scandal happened how MLB threw all the colored people under the bus. I see how little MLB does to market to Latinos eventhough they make up half the league. It’s a pattern of behavior. Why you are defending this garbage I really don’t know. Every person I ask never says why. I can tell you why I care about this. Why do you?
“colored people”
Ok, we’re done here. I tried to find some sense here, but it hasn’t been fruitful.
Should I call them tokens? You watch South Park. Do you prefer that term? I certainly don’t.
What I said is true. People deserve a fair shot. If the system is designed by white people and doesn’t allow for new people, aka non white people, to play then it’s a bad system. I imagine it doesn’t bother you and I am a middle aged white guy it’s not really my fight either but what’s fair is fair. I don’t believe in welfare but we all deserve a FAIR chance to be successful if we work hard.
“the union” and “mlbpa” work in concert with each other because…they are the same thing. the MLBPA is the MLB Players’ Association – the formal name for their union. I would assume that those “two” groups have mutual interests.
Who said the union and MLBPA aren’t the same people? Who said that?
I don’t understand how you could comment for the first time on the subject ignore the entire subject and then choose to say what you just said. I don’t get it.
Your arguments are convoluted, Joel. The system is very fair; that’s why the rules exist. I personally know Black, White and Latino Agents that work “for” the MLBPA. Do you understand how they’re different than the Rimas Organization? Did you guess “because they play by the rules?” because you’d be correct. You have to be licensed by the MLBPA in order to be a legitimate Agent. Same goes for every single professional league that I know of, not to mention other daily professions like Real Estate. Heck, even driving on our streets requires you to have-
A. A License
and
B. Play by the rules.
I won’t have anything else to say outside of I think you have confused, and hereby convoluted, yourself. Have a nice evening!
Why are you so obsessed with the rules? Read the freaking article. The guys who supposedly weren’t actual agents were clearly in the process of becoming agents. And what kind of nonsense rule wouldn’t allow for fair competition? Why is offering someone a gift for switching agencies against the rules? Why????
You personally know Latino agents? The heck you do. Name one you personally know. Then name 2 more.
What percentage of players are Latino? What percent of agents are? Forget the ones you personally know let’s talk about all of them.
Why are you so passionate about this? Is it because i criticized the Padres offseason months ago? That’s why Pads fans showed up. I thought you were better than that. I asked you multiple times already. Tell me why you are so passionate about this.
To be fair Joel, you said that.
“Dude the union and mlbpa work in concert with each other”
The Union and the MLBPA are the exact same thing, but I think you meant “the Union and MLB”
This isn’t about me, nor do I ever care if you criticize my Padres. Have at it, pal. I will leave it at this- the rules in place are for very specific reasons, and yes they are extremely fair. I’m sorry for you if you don’t see it that way, but c’est la vie!
And to answer you definitively- I am passionate for baseball. Aloha
Lets see.
Rimas is saying, “We broke the rules we agreed to play by and the laws of the US governing being an agent for MLB players so we are going to sue you for enforcing those rules and laws. PLUS we agreed to arbitration in case of something like this, but we won’t even adhere to that agreement”.
Do I have that right?
No. You forgot the part where they claim they shouldn’t be treated this way based on their ethnicity. But yeah, that’s the gist of it.
For Joel P and the others that seem REALLY slow to pick this up, let’s make this simple enough for EVERYONE to understand..
It. Is. Against. The. MLBPA Rules. AND. Federal Law. For. Agents.
Rimas signed an agreement with the MLBPA to represent MLB players. That agreement included NOT bribing players to leave other agencies which is what they have been found by the MLBPA to have been doing. There is a specific percentage of player compensation that an agent can earn for representing an MLB player. That rule is in place to protect players. By bribing them to change agencies, Rimas went above that percentage and BROKE the agreement with the MLBPA.
Part of that agreement is not breaking federal laws concerning agents. What Rimas did is against federal law for agents on two counts. Not just for agents representing baseball players. For ALL agents in any field. #1 – Bribing players and #2 – having people that are not certified claiming to be agents and acting as the representative of a player in negotiations. RIMAS broke their agreement with the MLBPA and violated federal law.
Why do you care so much?
Maybe b/c you’re spewing falsehoods in a time where that is rampant in the world, looking for cool points, or just to be a contrarian, in an obvious situation
What falsehoods am I spreading here?
There is a lawsuit being filed. If the lawyers involved didn’t think they have a case they wouldn’t have filed it.
Do you want to discuss the topic or not?
Ya lawsuits are never filed unless they’re guaranteed to win…………………
That’s also not even what you’re arguing
It’s at the very least a case worth discussing.
Do you want to discuss it or are you just following me around like a weirdo?
Rofl you replied to me…the same way you’ve replied to everyone else in this thread that isn’t a contrarian for the sake of being a contrarian, and the same way you do when arguing the Marlins are actually a great organization that has every reason to act as though they’re a current perennial world series contender
He’s virtue-signaling, and just making himself look silly.
I was the first person to comment on the post. The only people arguing with me are you and Pads fans and both of you are only arguing with me because of something I said to each of you weeks and months ago. You are mad about a discussion we had about the Marlins and are acting weird today because of it. You admitted as much.
Lawyers would take any cases if they canmake money off. Be real. Verizon and T-mobile are not bound agent rules and laws.
Rofl you don’t care what gets presented to you, and have to have something to say, even though it clearly has no basis in reality. It doesn’t matter how many times it’s pointed out to you, you have to continue, and then say it’s everyone else’s fault for telling you the factual reasons you’re wrong. I was simply trying to save the dude from wasting his time, when he clearly knew more about the situation with you than I did, which then made me realize who was there to be a contrarian to actual Marlins fans about their organization, without having even a little bit of actual knowledge or info about it. I’m simply noticing the pattern that was pointed out to me by the guy that was trying to live in a world where people don’t spread garbage narratives and falsehoods for other people to parrot, which is a world I want to live in too, but it’s more important for you to get your internet cool points than care about actual information in your face
There’s reading between the lines, and then there’s finding things that don’t exist and just deciding you want to make it reality…
Dude are you going to discuss the topic or not? I don’t want to put you on ignore but 1 more reply like that and I will.
You hit the nail on the head
Too gangsta for MLB!
It’s like breaking your sibling’s toy and running to mom and dad to say that sibling was in the wrong.
Is there something in the water in San Diego?
I have no idea what you mean. None at all.
Then ask Jennie Kim!
I wish you would act more obtuse. I haven’t had enough of it yet personally.
Wilmer and his brother Wilmer’s parents must have gone to the George Foreman School of Child Naming.
tonight I learned that the two Wilmer Floreses are related, and there’s apparently a THIRD Wilmer somewhere out there
Have you met any of the Victor Mesas yet?
Isn’t there also two Rougned Odor’s in pro ball?
Lie, deny, and make counter-allegations.
Blackpink you ruin your own argument by continually beating this drum that somehow this is about MLB screwing the brown guy. MLB is not being sued. MLBPA is. Literally no one, and nothing, in existence is more adversarial towards MLBPA than the MLB. Not even Bad Bunny. Manfred has his feet up and a bowl of fresh popcorn. He’s loving this.
The players association has a working relationship with MLB. They both need each other to exist. To act as if they are mortal enemies is silly. They work together because if they didn’t they wouldn’t make money.
I will ask you why are you defending them? Why??? This is like someone defending colleges for not paying their players. Why would you do that? I don’t get it. You should explain that.
Does anyone want to actually read the details of what the lawsuit is about? I don’t believe most people commenting actually understand what is going on here.
Who am I defending? The author of the article? Article says X. You scream Y. I’ve pointed out your error.
I mean, seriously. ‘They have a working relationship, so they must be the same thing!’ C’mon man. Do better.
You just quoted something I never said. That’s a weird thing to do. That’s enough for me I give everyone a chance but making up quotes is crossing the line. Nice knowing you.
What a strange thing for a MLBTR comment section to war over.
I can explain why I care. For some of the others you would have to ask them. It seems weird. The Padred fans are mad I criticized the Padres offseason months ago so they are going out of there way to disagree with me here. One guy is a Marlins fan who I was arguing with last week. It’s weird. Hopefully i have better things to do tomorrow.
Is blackpink a troll? Claims to be a white guy. Calls black people “colored” Thinks white players are treated better on here
Most definitely
His accounts keep getting banned.
My accounts got banned because some loser was creating accounts with a screen name that was almost exactly the same as mine and posting weird things pretending to be me. I reported it and they decided to ban both of us. That’s why I was banned just so you know. Stop using that as a reason why I am wrong about something today right now it’s lame.
So, are you a troll? Even someone like Keith olbermann wouldn’t make a race comment here
You took my comments out of context just so you could race bait. Off to ignore you go. I have seen enough of your posts to know i won’t be missing much.