Bad Bunny’s Rimas Sports Files Lawsuit Against MLBPA Over “Unprecedented” Sanctions

In a legal brawl that’s been shaking up the world of Major League Baseball (MLB), the gloves are off, and the opponents couldn’t have been more unlikely ones. Rimas Sports, the agency founded by none other than international music sensation Bad Bunny, has unleashed a fiery lawsuit against the MLB Players Association (MLBPA). And what’s their accusation?

Apparently, it is a deliberate “death penalty” that was supposedly aimed at destroying Rimas’ burgeoning sports empire. This isn’t just a legal spat anymore; it’s becoming a full-blown slugfest with accusations of discrimination, bias, and a predetermined takedown. According to ESPN, Rimas has not been pulling any punches, claiming that the MLBPA’s actions have inflicted “irreparable harm” on their agency, which boasts a gigantic roster full of 70 players—14 of whom are already in the big leagues.

The crux of the dispute lies in the MLBPA’s recent decision to decertify Bad Bunny’s agency’s lead agent—William Arroyo—and block the certification attempts of two of their executives, Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda. The board alleges these individuals provided improper benefits to players—a charge that Rimas vehemently denies.

“These restrictions extend well beyond the scope of the MLBPA’s authority to regulate its agents,” seethes the lawsuit, accusing the union of exceeding its power under the National Labor Relations Act. Bunny’s agency claims that the MLBPA’s actions were not merely punitive but that they were designed to obliterate Rimas Sports entirely. The damage, according to Rimas, is far-reaching.

They point to lost contracts, including a potential extension for New York Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez and the inability to sign reigning Atlanta Braves’ National League MVP, Ronald Acuña Jr., under their banner. The agency also claims that the MLBPA’s interference cost them a potential endorsement deal with Topps, the baseball card behemoth.

Peppered with a plethora of aggressive terminologies, the lawsuit reportedly suggests that the MLBPA saw Rimas—these “Puerto Rican ‘outsiders’”—as a threat to their ever-reigning established order. Rimas, on the other hand, claims that their massive success in recruiting Latin American talent was a little too much, too fast for the MLBPA and its competitors to stomach—hence, the biteback. And no matter how hard of a fact it is to ignore, the agency’s meteoric rise is undeniable.

Puerto Rico courtroom becomes MLBPA vs. Bad Bunny’s Rimas’ battleground

Founded in 2021, Rimas Sports has quickly carved out a niche by representing Latin American players—a demographic that often goes overlooked by larger agencies. Their roster includes promising young stars like Álvarez, Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio, and Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, for whom they negotiated an extension for seven years worth $63.5 million.

The lawsuit paints quite the picture of a David vs. Goliath battle, with Rimas portraying itself as the underdog fighting for survival against a powerful establishment determined to crush them. For the oft-overlooked players, particularly for agencies catering to Latin American athletes, the outcome of this legal showdown could have far-reaching implications for the entire sports agency landscape.

Adding fuel to the fire, Bad Bunny’s agency has revealed a damning allegation in their complaint. According to their statements, a year before the MLBPA’s final decision, entertainment attorneys seeking union certification were allegedly told that their approval was contingent on severing all ties with Rimas in a letter indicating that “certifications will be conditioned on your agreement not to work for or with Rimas Sports, represent Rimas Sports clients” with an “unprecedented condition imposed on them [that] is not part of the MLBPA Regulations.”

“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,” the lawsuit states. “In fact, 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.”

The visionary behind Rimas, Bad Bunny, has yet to publicly comment on the lawsuit. However, his agency’s aggressive legal maneuvering speaks volumes. They’re not backing down—they’re swinging for the fences, and they’re determined to have their day in court and see who bites the dust.

Representing Rimas Sports in this high-stakes battle are the legal titans, Colon Serrano Zambrana LLC, and Marini Pietrantoni Muniz LLC. The case has been filed in the US District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, setting the stage for a legal showdown that could reshape the landscape of baseball representation. The MLBPA, on the other hand, has remained tight-lipped, declining to comment on the ongoing litigation.