Jay-Z is reportedly set to extend his reach even further across the world of professional sports, and it looks like the first superstar player to help him do that will be New York Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano.
According to ESPNNewYork.com, Cano fired agent Scott Boras on Tuesday to join Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s entertainment company that is breaking into the sports representation business through a partnership with Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
“At this point in my career, I am ready to take a more active role in my endeavors on and off the field,” Cano said in a statement. “I am confident that the pairing of Roc Nation Sports and CAA Sports will be essential in helping me accomplish my short and long-term goals. I am making this important decision now so I can keep my focus on helping the Yankees succeed in 2013, while minimizing any distractions for me and my teammates.”
The Yankees made Cano a contract offer earlier this winter, but the two sides have not appeared to gain any ground. We all know Boras loves making sure his superstar clients test free agency no matter what offer they receive from their current team, so it will be interesting to see if Cano’s representation switch changes any of that.
Sources also told ESPNNewYork.com that Jay-Z himself plans to become a certified agent. He is reportedly planning to start with baseball and eventually take on clients from basketball and football. However, representing basketball players would require Jay-Z to give up his share of the Brooklyn Nets. Roc Nation, which represents artists like Rihanna, Shakira and Timbaland, is expected to eventually branch away from CAA and start its own sports agency division called Roc Nation Sports.
This will obviously give people like Scott Boras and other smaller agents some major competition if Jay-Z has success with Cano. Star power makes a signifcant difference, and Roc Nation already has plenty of that. It would also mean Jay-Z will have to be even more careful about doing stuff like this.
Photo credit: Twitter/Robinson Cano
