Categories
Headline MLB Players MLB Rules Sports Agents

Gus Dominguez Out Of Jail, Working With MLB Players

In 2006, Gustavo “Gus” Dominguez (uncle of Florida Marlins prospect Matt Dominguez) was charged for paying aides to illegally bring Cuban baseball players to California with the end goal of signing those players to contracts with MLB affiliated organizations.  Dominguez emigrated from Cuba, himself, and was once a member of the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox organizations.  Thereafter, Dominguez worked for a baseball agency named Total Sports International.  That changed in 2007 when he was convicted of illegally assisting five baseball players cross the border into the United States.  Dominguez was found guilty on twenty-one counts and was sentenced to five years in prison in addition to three years probation and payment of a $2,100 fine.

Five years have passed, and according to multiple reports, it appears that Gus Dominguez is back to representing baseball players.  His name has been attached to Garcia Speck, a lefthanded pitcher who, not surprisingly, defected from Cuba, and is looked upon as a very intriguing prospect.  Speck was formerly represented by Carlos Perez and Lazaro Collazo of Miami Sports Consulting.  BaseballAmerica reports that Dominguez also represents two players who were selected in the 2011 MLB Draft – Yordanys Perez (taken in the 28th round by the Cincinnati Reds) and Alfredo Unzue (taken in the 35th round by the Oakland Athletics).

According to the BaseballAmerica article, Dominguez said he is working as a “consultant” for a new Los Angeles agency, but can it really be distinguished from representation?  In fact, BaseballAmerica even states that Dominguez “represents” Perez and Unzue.  If/when Dominguez applies for MLBPA certification as a Player Agent, it will be interesting to see the MLBPA’s response.  According to Section 4(M) of the MLBPA Regulations Governing Player Agents (As Amended Effective October 1, 2010), the MLBPA may deny certification as a Player Agent to any applicant, or may impose limits or conditions on the certification granted to any applicant on certain grounds.  Of note is Section 4(M)(9).

One does not need to be a licensed Player Agent to advise players for the MLB Draft; however, if Dominguez hopes to represent players when they are added to their teams’ 40-man rosters, he will have to be cleared by the MLBPA.  As of now, there is no indication to believe the MLBPA will rule a certain way with respect to this matter.

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.