MLB being investigated for business practice in Latin America

[jimmer]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-federal-grand-jury-is-investigating-major-league-baseball/

 

'News broke this past weekend that Major League Baseball is currently the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation targeting the league’s business practices in Latin America.'

[Craig Arko]

Verrrry interesting.

[SF Twins Fan]

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/a-federal-grand-jury-is-investigating-major-league-baseball/

 

'News broke this past weekend that Major League Baseball is currently the subject of a federal grand-jury investigation targeting the league’s business practices in Latin America.'

 

Do you have a different link because I can't open this one for some reason?

[jimmer]

 

Do you have a different link because I can't open this one for some reason?

Nope, and I just clicked on it and it went right to the article.  You can go to Fangraphs, though. 

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/

 

It's on the front page right now, right below the Max Muncy article.

 

 

[biggentleben]

Not surprised at all to hear the Dodgers featuring prominently in this.

 

The folks that I talk with that do extensive work in Latin America scouting have mentioned how Latin America is controlled by four teams - the Dodgers, Yankees, Cubs, and Rangers. Those four had most of the major buscones either on payroll or with very distinct handshake agreements. When a team came into the Latin American game making noise, they were knocked down. Heavy word that I've had from more than one person is that the Red Sox investigation was keyed by Cubs representatives in the region. Only heard Dodgers from one person, but multiple people have said the Yankees reps in Latin America were a driving force behind the Braves investigation last year.

 

Basically, any team that's signed an international player is dirty to some degree in that market, as far as letter of the law is concerned. The question will be whether they pursue MLB as a whole or particular teams individually.

 

I attempted to utilize a mutual connection to set up an interview with John Coppollela this past spring, and the response I got was that he could do the interview, but he could not discuss anything involving his time in baseball due to pending litigation. Now he's among multiple former Braves employees who have already given written responses to this investigation.

 

For his case, I hope Coppy sees Hart and Schuerholz get theirs, perhaps getting MLB to reconsider their lifetime ban. It continues to blow me away that a guy who wasn't given full GM control in his first year somehow did all of the naughty things in that year of being supervised, but the guys who were tasked with supervising him apparently came away clean and are still making money in the game - Hart as an on-air analyst for the league's television network, no less.

[MN_ExPat]

That could explain why some teams systems seem to be so heavily loaded with talent from central America and the Caribbean... or I could be a complete mouth breather and reading too much into it.

[gunnarthor]

Well I'm fairly confident that the teams are taking advantage of the kids down there so hopefully this investigation leads to some serious changes that help those kids.

[Blake]

Follow-up article about the Dodgers.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-dodgers-might-be-in-actual-legal-trouble/

 

Human trafficking and RICO violations are alleged.