Reposted by @shikamarusponytail.bsky.social
Belfi Rivera was 14 when the Arizona Diamondbacks made a handshake deal that would pay him $1.8M after he turned 16.
But $630K went to a trainer who brokered the deal, and $950K+ went to a lender whose business partner is Red Sox legend David Ortiz.
propublica.org
How the Dominican Baseball Factory Traps Young Players and Their Families With False Promises
Teams make handshake deals with players as young as 11 while moneylenders prey on their families. The industry is corrupt, but Major League Baseball and the players union have done little about it.