David Sloane

David Sloane is a player agent who has represented over 125 baseball clients in a career spanning 43 years, including Carlos Delgado.

In 2018, he announced that he was getting out of the business, a decision triggered by his experience representing Justus Sheffield, a top selection in the amateur draft in 2014. There was a disagreement over the percentage owed him, as he expected 5% of the value of Sheffield's $1.6 million signing bonus while Sheffield felt he was entitled to only 3%. Sloane sued Sheffield for breach of contract in a court in Arizona and lost, given he had not followed standard procedures in registering as an agent and detailing in writing what his services and its costs were. That in turn led to the State of Tennessee, where Sheffield played his high school baseball, investigating and fining him for violating state laws relative to player agents. He felt the punishments were excessive and blamed just about everyone for polluting the waters when he decided to call it a day.

As of June 16, 2018, he was appealing the Tennessee case.

Further Reading

• Bob Nightengale: "Why a baseball agent is leaving the industry over $33,000: 'Tired of swimming in a sewer'", USA Today Sports, June 3, 2018. [1]
• Christian Red: "Sports agent claims Yankees prospect Justus Sheffield's family stiffed him over commission: 'It's been a nightmare'", Daily News, June 16, 2018. [2]