A sports agency launched by Latin recording artist Bad Bunny is suing the Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) over a “discriminatory, biased, and predetermined investigation” into the company’s business practices.
Rimas Sports, filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in San Juan, Puerto Rico on May 16, accusing the union of prohibiting any MLBPA-certified agents from affiliating with the agency in any capacity, a roster that now includes National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr.
The suit claims the MLBPA violated Puerto Rico’s general tort claim for tortious interference and injury with its contracts to represent players, adding it was an attempt to block Mr. Acuña Jr. as a client and negotiation surrounding a contract for New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez.
On April 10 of this year, the union issued a Notice of Discipline to Rimas Sports’ agents, William Arroyo, Noah Assad, and Jonathan Miranda, slapping them with a $400,000 fine for misconduct.
Mr. Arroyo was decertified as a result, and both Mr. Assad and Mr. Miranda were barred from seeking certification. Additionally, Rimas’ other MLBPA-certified agent, Michael Velasquez resigned from his role after he was threatened with decertification.
“By issuing this Prohibition, the MLBPA took the extraordinary and unprecedented step of essentially placing a death penalty on Rimas Sports and Rimas Entertainment that extends well beyond the scope of the MLBPA’s regulators authority,” read the complaint.
Rimas argues the punishments are due to a two-year attempt from the union to permanently put them out of business and eliminate them from the market completely. As a result, sought a temporary restraining order and injunction against the penalties imposed by the union.
“The MLBPA knew, or should have known, that such actions have caused and will continue to cause severe and agency-killing harm to the Rimas Companies,” read the suit.
Rimas is also requesting monetary damages in an amount to be determined at trial, as well as covering the cost and fees for attorneys and further relief that the court deems necessary.
All three intend to appeal the Notice of Discipline, which will be determined by the American Arbitration Association. However, since the MLBPA only certifies or decertifies individuals as Player Agents and not as firms or entities, Rimas will not be part of the appeal process.
According to their site, the MLBPA represents players on the 40-man Major League rosters, along with over 5,000 Minor League players employed by the 30 Major League baseball teams.
The union also oversees the for-profit corporate subsidiary, MLB Players, Inc., which represents the group’s exclusive commercial and licensing activities among active players.
Born Benito Martinez-Ocasio, the three-time Grammy award winner founded Rimas back in 2021, with the goal of building a sports marketing and management firm focused on bringing greater representation to the Latin American community in the world of sports.
In a press release, Mr. Miranda touted the 26-year-old Venezuelan baseball star as a once-in-a-generation player who will take his career to new heights.
“Acuña is aligned with Rimas Sports foundational principle of empowering the next generation of Latin American players by helping them build lasting legacies for themselves, their families, and their communities,” said Mr. Miranda.
The Epoch Times reached out to MLBPA for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
