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Santo Domingo. Dominican star outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. was ordered by an independent arbitrator to pay US$3.74 million to the company Big League Advance (BLA), according to the San Diego Tribune. The decision comes after the player's attempt to void a future earnings agreement he signed in 2017, when he was only 18 years old and playing in Class A within the San Diego Padres organization.
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The original agreement between Tatis and BLA was signed in October 2017, granting him US$2 million in advance in exchange for 10% of all his future earnings. With the 14-year, US$340 million contract that the player signed with the Padres in 2021, the portion corresponding to BLA would amount to US$34 million.
According to court documents, Tatis has not made payments since the end of 2023, which prompted the company to file a petition with the Superior Court of the District of Columbia on September 24 to confirm the arbitration award. The request includes US$3.23 million in outstanding payments, plus US$240,515 in interest, US$250,000 in legal fees and US$14,349 in additional expenses. The Padres player argues that BLA acted as an unlicensed lender, using manipulative and illegal tactics to lure him into an unfair contract. His legal team seeks protection under California's consumer protection laws, alleging that the agreement was detrimental and that the company violated state regulations. However, the arbitrator dismissed Tatis' attempts to suspend the arbitration proceedings, noting that the BLA advance cannot be considered a traditional loan, as it was "paid unconditionally", even if the player did not reach the Major Leagues. Furthermore, he maintained that the funds were not intended for personal or domestic purposes, therefore the protections of the California consumer code do not apply. The legal conflict continues, as the arbitrator does not have jurisdiction over the lawsuit that the baseball player maintains in California, while BLA seeks the execution of the arbitration ruling in the District of Columbia. With this decision, Tatis Jr. faces a new financial setback off the field, despite being one of the most lucrative contracts in the history of professional baseball.
