Fernando Tatis, Jr. sues Big League Advance Fund for exploitative business practices

New York Times

23-06-2025

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a legal complaint Monday against Big League Advance Fund and Big League Advantage, LLC (BLA), a company that offers players upfront payments in exchange for a percentage of future MLB earnings. Tatis owes millions to BLA after agreeing to a deal with them in 2017.
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The complaint, filed in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, seeks to hold BLA accountable for 'its exploitative, predatory business practices, which shamelessly push illegal loans on young, vulnerable athletes — most from economically disadvantaged Latin American countries,' according to a press release sent on behalf of Tatis' legal team.
Tatis, who signed a 14-year, $340-million deal with the Padres in 2021, initially praised the agreement with BLA, telling The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal in 2018 he signed the agreement because he needed the money to hire a personal trainer, rent a better apartment and buy better food. At the time, Tatis was in a prospect in the minor leagues and said he wasn't worried about the BLA bill that would come if and when he made it to the big leagues.
'I'm not afraid,' Tatis said. 'I'm not going to spend that money stupidly. You've got to be smart with your decisions, with what you're going to do.'
That thinking has apparently changed. According to the release, the suit alleges that 'BLA has for years run an unlicensed lending business that evades legal oversight and siphons millions in earnings from California workers.'
'I'm fighting this battle not just for myself but for everyone still chasing their dream and hoping to provide a better life for their family,' Tatis states in the release. 'I want to help protect those young players who don't yet know how to protect themselves from these predatory lenders and illegal financial schemes — kids' focus should be on their passion for baseball, not dodging shady business deals.'
Tatis is not the first player to try to sue BLA. Former big leaguer Francisco Mejía sued BLA in 2018, citing 'unconscionable' tactics BLA used to persuade him to give up 10 percent of his future MLB earnings in exchange for three separate payments totaling $360,000. Tatis agreed to his deal while in the Dominican Republic, according to the press release, and many in the industry have raised concerns over the disproportionate amount of young Latin players who sign these types of agreements.
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The money BLA gives players is not a loan, per se: if a player doesn't reach the big leagues, he owes nothing. If he does reach the major leagues, however, the price — a portion of pre-tax major-league earnings — can be hefty. Michael Schwimer, a 32-year-old former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies who is the president and CEO of BLA, told The Athletic in 2018 the goal of his company is to help minor leaguers guard against uncertain futures. Some believe otherwise.
'California lawmakers have put in place serious, straightforward protections against predatory financial activity, but BLA has still disregarded our laws to pursue a business model built on prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices,' said Robert Hertzberg, who is part of Tatis' legal team in the complaint.