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On To The Next One: Nick Swisher

A few days ago, it was first reported that Nick Swisher left long time Cincinnati, Ohio based agent, Joe Bick of Pro Star Management, Inc for Scott Boras.  Part of that was correct.  Swisher did leave Bick, but actually left him for Dan Lozano.  Lozano has not slept much lately; the only thing on his mind is today’s noon deadline for the St. Louis Cardinals to sign his client Albert Pujols to a long-term contract.  Well maybe not the only thing, as he is also likely busy fielding calls from teams interested in another one of his clients, Michael Young.

Swisher has already been taken off of Bick’s website.  His client list also includes New York Yankee Brett Gardner, and his biggest client is Boston Red Sox great Kevin Youkilis.  Losing Swish has to sting.  He is not only a great player, but he has created a great following on Twitter, which could translate to huge marketing opportunities, especially if the Yankees are fighting for another championship next year.  While baseball agents typically take 4-5% commissions on team contracts, marketing cuts typically range between 15-25%.  No word on whether Lozano will direct Swisher’s marketing campaign as well.

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.

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