Last day the 13th Yariel Rodriguez debuted with the Blue Jays, already with US$30 million insured, thus completing a roadmap that was designed in 2018 and began to be executed a year ago. After the 2023 World Classic ended in Miami, whoever was the best Cuban arm in the tournament had to fly to Japan, where he had a contract with the Chunichi Dragons. But he took a plane to Santo Domingo after his major league dream.
However, Rodríguez has accounts with the Dominican justice system and is facing a process similar to that of his compatriot Yoenis Céspedes more than a decade ago. A lawsuit in court seeks for him to make the payment of US$2 million that he assumed with a representative.
Raymel Martínez Charón, a Cuban who convinced Rodríguez in 2018 to face the route towards MLB When he was pitching in the National Series for the Ganaderos de Camagüey, he was responsible for bringing him from Miami to the Dominican Republic to unblock him before the United States authorities and present him to the clubs of the MLB.
The original agreement established that Martínez would receive 25% of the signing contract, but eventually that agreement was restructured, in May 2023, and was reduced to 5%.
Actors such as developer Edgar Mercedes entered the equation, who assumed the preparation of the launcher in exchange for 13% of the contract; Jaime Rivas, who spent US$600 thousand to acquire 6%, and Luis Báez kept 1%, for his player transportation services.
The relationship between Rodríguez and Martínez broke up in 2023, so the latter appealed to lawyers to ensure that the contract was fulfilled. His legal team notified both the Blue Jays as well as the embassies of the United States and Canada about the existence of the contract through opposition of payments so that there is no breach.
On February 9, the agreement with the Blue Jays was made official for US$40 million and five years, with US$8 million immediately advanced as a signing bonus. Once the disbursement was made in a Dominican bank, Rodríguez moved the money to a third-party account and did not settle the commitment with Martínez.
The first hearing was set for next June 25 in the Fourth Chamber of the Civil and Commercial Chamber of the Court of First Instance of the National District. A favorable ruling would force the player to make the payment.
Martínez’s lawyers, who provided a copy of the file to Diario Libre, show the sheriff’s acts where they notify the Canadian team of the existence of an agreement that establishes the distribution of 25% of the money.
The lawyers allege the club’s responsibility because it was notified on January 31 and February 13. The actors were informed, once again, of the warning and put into default by means of a sheriff’s act, on February 15.
Sources consulted by DL assure that the pitcher would have complied with some of the debtors.
Yoenis Céspedes, the reference
Edgar Mercedes lived a similar experience with the Cuban Yoenis Céspedes. His company Born To Play represented the former outfielder in the country and arranged a US$36 million contract with the Athletics in 2012. The agreement established that Céspedes had to pay 22% (US$7.9 MM) to Mercedes, he did not do so. , but in March 2013 the Santiago Chamber of Commerce and Production determined that the pact was valid and the player had to pay.
With the case of Rodríguez, in April 2023, the complaint establishes that lawyer Guillermo Estrella Ramia was contacted to unblock or lift the restriction that the pitcher had in Japanese baseball, in exchange for 1.5% of the signing contract.