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The Man Behind Pablo Sandoval

On June 19, 2008, Gustavo “Gus” Vasquez entered my life via an email he sent me, introducing himself as a certified baseball agent looking for the opportunity to work at a company where he could take his clients and know they would be in good hands.  At the time, he claimed to “have” 3 players on 40-man rosters, including 1 player in the MLB and 2 solid prospects.  I would have been crazy not to respond.  We set up a meeting at a Starbucks in Broward County, Florida and after we met, I was very excited about the potential of working with Gus.  His “main man” was Pablo Sandoval, but he also said that he “had” Elvis Andrus, Luis Maza, Yhency Brazoban, amongst many other talented players.

For a while, Gus and I kept playing phone tag.  We would follow up with one another, but never seemed to be able to form a stable relationship.  Then, all of a sudden, Pablo Sandoval gets called up to the Majors with the San Francisco Giants, and word spreads that Sandoval signed with Gaylord Sports.  And guess who was now a part of Gaylord?  Gus Vasquez.

Terry Bross and Gregg Clifton were convinced that it was worthwhile to bring Gus in, but they were not willing to give Gus the upfront money he wanted.  Gus ended up having to work another job at a bank in Florida while he was doing whatever work he was doing for Gaylord.  Yet Gus’ stipulations were clear – he wanted a base salary and benefits for his family.  Eventually, when he realized that was not a possibility, he moved on.

Gus Vasquez is now listed as the Director of Baseball at Morgan Advisory Group (MAG).  And guess who is the staple baseball client at MAG – Pablo Sandoval.  I can’t blame Ryan Morgan for bringing Gus in.  Gus seemed like a very pleasant, intelligent man when I met him in person.  He just wanted a firm that was willing to treat him the right way.

I am told that Gaylord may not have put this issue aside just yet.  Apparently, Gaylord is still considering legal action against Gus Vasquez for picking up and taking his guys with him elsewhere.  Pablo Sandoval had a signed representation agreement with Gaylord, which was sent to the union, prior to him leaving to MAG.

As you continue to hear the stories about Pablo, the Panda, Sandoval shredding pounds this offseason to get back into solid playing shape, you will now know one of the guys who is right alongside him, pushing him along the way.

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 “The Man Behind Pablo Sandoval”

Darren –

Why did you not add Gus and a big leaguer to Dynasty?
Great Site

– Stubs

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