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Dynasty Athlete Representation

Dan Leatherman Comparisons

When we signed Dan Leatherman to be a Dynasty baseball client in March of this year, we thought he was a talented player who unfortunately was dropped by an MLB organization and would have to spend some time with an Independent League team before making his way back to the Minors.  We were delighted to hear that the Washington Nationals were interested in Dan and quickly jumped on the opportunity to send him straight to their extended Spring Training, avoiding him playing a single game in Canada (which is where he was headed to play Indy ball).  Leatherman had shown his skill previously with the Twins and we believed that he would once again show up strong in his second stint in the Minors.  Thus, we advised him to sign a one-year deal with the Nationals, giving him the opportunity to either re-sign with the team at the end of the season or test the market as a free-agent.

Dan ended up having a remarkable first year back in the Minors and while he is working hard in the off-season working out and providing for his family, we are putting together statistical sheets to show his value to an MLB organization.  That organization may be the Nationals.  It may also be any other NL or AL team.  We are only permitted to negotiate with the Nationals (and no other team) until five days after the conclusion of the World Series.  While we would love for Dan to remain in the Nationals organization, we must prepare as if that will not be the case.  Here is an example of one statistical comparison that we have established, highlighting how Dan compared to his fellow teammates on last year’s Hagerstown Suns team:

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.

2 replies on “Dan Leatherman Comparisons”

Thanks for posting this. I think this type of analysis it what an agent’s main role should be (especially for minor league players who do not get much marketing). I also think that you can break down the numbers even more. What are the key statistics for a relief pitcher like Leatherman? For example, can you caculate inherited runners scored and run differential? Can you gather helpful info from this link: http://www.minorleaguesplits.com/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?pl=504093

Just trying to help and keep people talking about what agents really do. What are you goals in the numbers? Does it impact what a team would be willing to pay him or does it simply show a team that they should sign him? Don’t most minor league players sign that National Association contract or just get paid close to $1,500 a month? Thanks.

This is merely an example of the sheets that we are putting together for Dan. Thanks for the link, I will go ahead and take a look at it. I appreciate your comments and contributions as of late.

The goals in the numbers are to convince Washington to pay Dan what he deserves and/or to show other teams his value and why they should potentially consider adding him to their rosters (after the mandatory 5 days post-World Series). $1,500 may be an average contract for a Minor League player. Our stance is that Dan’s performance has shown that he is above average.

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