Robinson Cano Signs With Jay-Z; Why Did He Dump Agent Scott Boras?

Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano has fired agent Scott Boras and hired Roc Nation Sports, a sports management company founded by Jay-Z. The move is widely seen as an indication that Cano, who will be eligible for free agency when this season ends, will likely seek to negotiate with the Yankees. He is earning $15 million this season with the club as part of the six-year, $57 million deal inked in 2008.

Roc Nation Sports is a subsidiary of Roc Nation, Jay-Z's entertainment company, and is partnering with CAA Sports, a division of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), which counts Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade among its clients. Roc Nation will handle Cano's marketing, while CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen will handle baseball negotiations.

The Yankees had offered an extension to Cano earlier this season which was rejected, and no word of new negotiations followed. Boras' record of bargaining for big free agency contracts instead of pursuing contract extensions with clients' current teams appeared to point to a future with a different team. Other Boras clients include former Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, who signed a seven-year, $126 million deal with Washington, and Prince Fielder, who secured 9 years and $214 million from Detroit after leaving Milwaukee. As such, Cano's firing of Boras appears to signal a new willingness to negotiate - CAA stars like Matt Cain Ryan Braun and Ryan Zimmerman have tended to pursue contracts with their current team. Buster Posey, another CAA client, agreed last week to a deal with San Francisco worth $167 million.

Cano's switch to Roc Nation Sports coincided with the announcement of its launching on Tuesday morning. Cano will be its centerpiece and first client, according to the New York Times.

Two weeks ago Cano met with LeBron James after a Heat game in Miami and received a pair of signed sneakers from the basketball star. James is a close friend of Jay-Z, an avid Yankees fan who holds considerable sway as a cultural icon. The rapper owns a stake in the Brooklyn Nets which has been reported to be one-fifteenth of one percent. His agency likely cannot represent NBA players unless he sells his shares of the Nets, and as such, it's thought that the agency will aggressively pursue players in other sports. Roc Nation, in its capacity as an entertainment company, represents musical acts like Rihanna, Shakira and Timbaland.

In a press release, the second baseman cited a desire to "minimize any distractions for me and my teammates" in his decision.