Padres' Tatis sues BLA to void future earnings deal

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Padres prima Fernando Tatis Jr. filed a suit Monday against Big League Advance successful an effort to void the aboriginal net declaration helium signed arsenic a 17-year-old insignificant leaguer that could outgo him $34 million.

The lawsuit, filed successful San Diego County Superior Court, accuses BLA of utilizing predatory tactics to lure him into an "investment deal" that was really an amerciable loan. BLA misrepresented itself to Tatis, hiding its unlicensed presumption and pushing him into indebtedness presumption banned by California's user extortion laws, the suit alleges.

Attorney Robert Hertzberg said the suit besides seeks nationalist injunctive alleviation to support young athletes from being lured into specified deals.

Hertzberg said Tatis received $2 cardinal up beforehand successful speech for 10% of aboriginal earnings. Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year declaration successful February 2021. Hertzberg said Tatis would besides beryllium connected the hook for aboriginal net from immoderate consequent declaration helium mightiness sign, unless the woody is voided.

"I'm warring this conflict not conscionable for myself but for everyone inactive chasing their imagination and hoping to supply a amended beingness for their family," Tatis said successful a connection provided by a publicist. "I privation to assistance support those young players who don't yet cognize however to support themselves from these predatory lenders and amerciable fiscal schemes -- kids' absorption should beryllium connected their passionateness for baseball, not dodging shady concern deals."

Tatis, a lad of the erstwhile large league infielder, declined further remark earlier Monday night's crippled against the Washington Nationals.

Hertzberg said that adjacent though Tatis signed the woody successful his autochthonal Dominican Republic, helium is covered by California user extortion laws.

BLA declined comment.

"California lawmakers person enactment successful spot serious, straightforward protections against predatory fiscal activity, but BLA has inactive disregarded our laws to prosecute a concern exemplary built connected prohibited, deceptive and abusive practices," said Hertzberg, a erstwhile talker of the California State Assembly and bulk person of the California Senate.

Tatis has blossomed into 1 of the game's biggest stars, though he's been dogged by injuries and an 80-game PED suspension handed down by MLB successful 2022. He debuted successful 2019 and was an All-Star astatine shortstop successful 2021 earlier being moved to close field, wherever helium was an All-Star past year.