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MLBPA Imposes 4-Year Ban on Baseball Agent Jim Murray Amid Allegations of Double-Dealing

MLBPA Imposes 4-Year Ban on Baseball Agent Jim Murray Amid Allegations of Double-Dealing

The recent decision by the Major League Baseball Players Association to ban Jim Murray, a baseball agent with more than 25 years of industry experience, marks a significant development in the realm of player representation and labor relations. Murray’s extensive history includes notable stints at prominent agencies such as Excel Sports Management, where he contributed to representing high-profile clients like Derek Jeter and Clayton Kershaw, before his departure to WME Sports in 2021. As a reminder, Excel sued Endeavor/WME for poaching baseball agents, including Murray, and won a massive award after the matter shifted venue to arbitration.

Anyhow, the MLBPA’s action against Murray stems from his alleged conduct during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic negotiations, when the league and union were locked in discussions over a shortened season, player compensation, and related matters. The MLBPA claimed that Murray acted as an informant for MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and senior officials, sharing sensitive information and assisting in strategies that undermined the players’ bargaining positions.

Evidence presented in a 71-page disciplinary letter and a 5-page memo to player leadership includes text messages and emails where Murray advised against conceding to union proposals, such as one instance where he urged Manfred not to give in on language regarding October games, stating that the deal could be completed without it. In another exchange with MLB chief communications officer Pat Courtney, Murray expressed frustration with the players, reportedly writing “F the players” and emphasizing the need to direct their anger toward union leadership. He also suggested media leaks to sympathetic reporters and provided draft proposals to aid the league’s efforts in reducing player pay amid the crisis.

Under the terms of a settlement reached before an arbitration hearing, Murray has agreed to a 4-year decertification as an agent, during which he is prohibited from negotiating player contracts or earning fees from them, along with a $100,000 fine. However, the agreement includes limited exceptions, permitting him to manage marketing affairs for players and advise 4 specific clients (Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Jett Williams, and Jack Leiter) on contract terms without direct negotiation or financial gain. Should Murray seek recertification after the ban period, he must pay an additional $150,000 fine.

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.