Hip-hop mogul turned sports agent Jay Z, is currently being investigated by the Major League Baseball Players’ Association after dropping an estimated $33,900 on a watch he bought for his New York Yankees’ client Robinson Cano for his birthday. The MLBPA has a strict policy preventing agents from signing players by simply promising them extravagant gifts. According to CBS Sports the MLBPA rule states:
Section 5(B)(5)(a): “No Player Agent or Applicant shall provide, cause to be provided or promise to provide, any money or any other thing of value to any player, or any person related to or associated with such player, the purpose of which is to induce or encourage such player to use or continue to use any person’s or firm’s services as a Player Agent, Representative, or Draft Advisor.”
If it is determined that Jay Z violated this rule, he faces “unspecified discipline” according to Crasnick. I am sure they can argue that it was simply a birthday gift from one friend to another but the fact Jay Z is now his agent makes it a little more tricky.