Jay Z Reportedly Investigated by MLBPA for Giving Robinson Cano Expensive Watch

Matt Fitzgerald

 

New York Yankees star second baseman Robinson Cano was the beneficiary of an expensive birthday gift from Roc Nation founder Jay Z. Now, the hip-hop icon is being investigated by the MLBPA for giving the ballplayer a pricey watch.

The league's players association is seeking to determine whether Jay Z was in violation of the union's agent regulations for giving the watch to Cano at a birthday party in Belgium, per ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick.

Cano posted a photo of the watch on his Instagram account, and the timepiece is worth a whopping $33,900.

Here is another look courtesy of Sports Blog New York:

 

The watch is a limited-edition Shawn Carter Classic Fusion watch made by the Swiss company Hublot. Jay Z was on his "Magna Carta Tour" and had performed a concert in Antwerp the night before Cano's 31st birthday celebration on Oct. 22.   

Crasnick highlighted the rule in question:

Section 5(B)(5)(a) of the Players Association regulations states: "No Player Agent or Applicant shall provide, cause to be provided or promise to provide, any money or any other thing of value to any player, or any person related to or associated with such player, the purpose of which is to induce or encourage such player to use or continue to use any person's or firm's services as a Player Agent, Representative, or Draft Advisor.''

Also noted in the report is that Cano joined Jay Z's Roc Nation sports group in April, leaving the high-powered agency led by Scott Boras.

Whether it was a genuine gesture by a friend or an attempt to indeed influence Cano to stay on with Roc Nation, Jay Z's gift was lavish by any stretch.

There is a clause, as Crasnick points out, for a player to receive a gift of up to $500, but any gift in excess of that amount would have to be disclosed to the union in writing. Jay Z could face unspecified discipline for his actions if he's found to be in the wrong.

Cano is seeking a 10-year, $310 million extension from the Yankees, per Crasnick, and has signed a one-year qualifying offer worth $14.1 million.

While also being a two-time Gold Glove Award-winner, the five-time All-Star is a .309 career hitter with approximate averages of 23 home runs, 42 doubles, 183 hits and 91 RBI per season in his nine-year career.

He was one of only a few Yankees stars to stay healthy in 2013. Cano has played in 159 or more games in each season since 2007.