Breaking: Braves’ star likely to join Bad Bunny’s agency despite MLBA inquiry

According to Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. is set to join Rimas Sports for marketing and off-field representation.

Last Friday, Ghiroli claimed that Rimas Sports, the agency co-founded by Grammy Award winner Bad Bunny, “is facing significant punishment” from the Major League Baseball Players Association.

“The exact reason for the discipline is unknown,” she said in a statement. “Rimas has been the subject of multiple complaints from other agencies to the Players Association, which oversees agent certification in both the major and minor leagues,” according to various sources familiar with the situation. The Players Association declined to comment.

William Arroyo, one of Rimas Sports’ two certified agents, reportedly had his MLBPA license revoked after charges that he offered potential clients inappropriate benefits.

“Multiple accounts from players and agents involve employees of Rimas offering large sums of money, cars and other incentives prohibited in MLBPA’s agent regulations to get players to switch agencies,” according to Ghiroli.

She mentioned that the restrictions are more eased when an agency is pursuing a player for marketing or business purposes.

This could explain why Acuña chose to join with Rimas Sports despite the agency’s current struggles.

Acuña’s agent has limited ability to influence his on-field earnings. In 2019, he signed an eight-year, $100 million contract extension with the Braves that will take him through the 2028 season. At the time, it appeared to be a team-friendly contract for a rising young star, and the 26-year-old’s $17 million pay has only grown out of proportion to his on-field performance.

Acuña is the National League MVP, becoming the only player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 70 bases in the same season.

Following a slow start, the explosive outfielder is regaining his stroke. He had a.400/.483/.600 slash line in the Braves’ last six games.

It’s unclear what Acuña’s free agency market will be like in 2029, especially following the recent offseason. As long as he continues on his current route, he will at least receive a large sum of money.