Dan Lozano

Daniel Martin Lozano (born March 3, 1967) is a professional sports agent, specializing in baseball. He is the founder of MVP Sports Group, a sports agency based in Los Angeles, CA. His current clients include many notable MLB players such as Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Alex Rodriguez, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Beltrán, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, Jr., Nick Swisher, Michael Young, Brian Wilson and Mike Piazza. He has worked professionally as an agent for over 23 years, and has negotiated numerous deals including some of the largest deals in baseball history such as Mike Piazza's 7-year $91 million deal with the New York Mets, Albert Pujols’ $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Joey Votto's $225 million extension with the Cincinnati Reds, and both Manny Machado's 10-year $300 million deal and Fernando Tatis, Jr.'s 14-year $340 million extension with the San Diego Padres.

Dan Lozano
Born	Daniel Martin Lozano (1967-03-03) March 3, 1967 (age 56)
Occupation	Sports Agent
Years active	23
Employer	MVP Sports Group
Website	www.mvpsportsgroup.com

Early career

Lozano began working as an intern for Beverly Hills Sports Council in 1989, and was made a partner at the firm in 1996 where he remained until his departure in May 2010.^[1] During his tenure at the firm, Lozano represented many of the highest profile players in baseball, and negotiated several record setting contracts. In 1998, Lozano negotiated what at the time was the largest contract ever awarded in MLB, Mike Piazza's 7-year $91 million contract with the New York Mets.^[2] Ultimately valued at over $93 million with incentives earned, it remains the third largest contract ever awarded to a catcher.^[3] In 2000, Lozano negotiated an extension for Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall worth more than $60 million over 5 years.^[4] In 2004, he negotiated an 8-year $112 million deal for first-time arbitration eligible Albert Pujols with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was the largest contract in Cardinals’ history, and it remains the largest contract ever for a first time arbitration eligible player.^[5][6] (Mike Trout's six-year $144.5mm contract signed in 2014 has since surpassed this contract in value.) Lozano also negotiated a number of other multimillion-dollar contracts or extensions, including for Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (6 years $48.5 million)^[7] and Texas Rangers infielder Michael Young (6 years $81 million).^[8]

Lozano's success has earned him numerous accolades in the sports business community. He has twice been named to the prestigious “Forty Under 40” list created annually by Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal, first in 2002 then again in 2005.^[9] He is routinely referenced as one of the top agents in sports.^[10]

MVP Sports Group

In May, 2010, it was widely reported that Lozano had left Beverly Hills Sports Council in favor of starting a new company, and that many of his clients would elect to remain with his representation.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} Shortly thereafter, Lozano founded MVP Sports Group (formerly ICON Sports Group) where he has continued to represent many of his clients including Albert Pujols, Joey Votto, Jimmy Rollins, Michael Young and others. Since his departure, a number of other players have also signed with Lozano and MVP including Alex Rodriguez,^[16] Nick Swisher,^[17] Brian Wilson, Kurt Suzuki,^[18] Manny Machado,^[19] Carlos Beltrán,^[20] Jonny Gomes, Fernando Tatis, Jr., Mike Gonzalez and Eric Young, Jr.^[21]

2011 Offseason

The 2011 MLB offseason was highlighted by the free-agency of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols after spending his first 11 seasons with the Cardinals.^[22][23] After an extended bidding process involving multiple teams, Pujols ended up signing a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.^[24][25] The deal made Pujols just the second player in professional sports history to sign a contract whose total value exceeded $200 million.^[26] Pujols’ contract contains numerous incentives and milestone bonuses, as well as a lucrative personal services agreement that would begin after Pujols retires that could push the total value of the deal above $260 million.^[27] Lozano also negotiated several other multi-year contracts in 2011, including Carlos Beltran's $26 million deal with the Cardinals,^[28][29] and Jimmy Rollins’ $33 million deal with the Phillies.^[30] Lozano also negotiated a massive 10 year, $225 million extension for Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto on the eve of the start to the 2012 regular season.^[31] Including the 2 years remaining on his previous deal, the total value of the contract is reported to be 12 years and $251.5 million (plus a team option for the 2024 season). It's the largest contract ever awarded to a National League player and the longest guaranteed contract in major league history.^[32][33] The deal shocked many in the industry, not only for the length and total dollars spent by the Reds, but also because Votto was still under contract and two years away from free agency.^[34][35] In total, Lozano was responsible for negotiating more than half a billion dollars in contracts, a record for any individual agent or agency in one offseason.

November 2011

Lozano was the subject of an unflattering exposé in an article published on Deadspin.com in November 2011. The article, based on an anonymously sent packet received by Deadspin that quotes unidentified and anonymous sources, alleges various improprieties. A previously published USA Today article covering the same issues addressed the possible source of the allegations, noting Lozano's impressive client roster (including the many players who had left other firms to hire him) and his recent departure from a firm as possible motivations for attack.^[36]

References

1. Mullen, Liz (February 28, 2005). "Dan Lozano – Forty under 40". Street and Smith's Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
2. Diamos, Jason (October 27, 1998). "Piazza, Risking Boos, Accepts Challenge With Mets". NY Times. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
3. "Highest Paid Players". Baseball Prospectus.
4. "Pirates Sign Kendall To 6-Year Contract". NY Times. November 18, 2000. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
5. . Associated Press. February 20, 2004. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
6. Gannam, Tom (February 19, 2004). "Pujols, Cardinals complete $100 million deal". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
7. "Phillies sign Rollins to five-year extension". mlb.com. June 13, 2005. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
8. "Young agrees to five-year extension with Texas". Associated Press. March 2, 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
9. "Forty Under 40: Past Winners". Street and Smith's Sports Business Daily. March 12, 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
10. Lubin, Gus (November 29, 2010). "The 12 Best Sports Agents In the World". Retrieved 8 October 2012.
11. Brown, Maury (June 2, 2010). . Biz of Baseball. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
12. Nightengale, Bob (June 1, 2010). "Player agent Dan Lozano leaves agency, brings Albert Pujols and others with him". USA Today. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
13. Dierkes, Tim (June 1, 2010). "Dan Lozano Leaves Beverly Hills Sports Council". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
14. Crasnick, Jerry (May 25, 2010). "Prominent MLB agent leaves firm". ESPN. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
15. "MLB Player Agent Dan Lozano Leaves Beverly Hills Sports Council". Street and Smith's Sports Business Daily. May 26, 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
16. Dierkes, Tim (May 9, 2011). "Dan Lozano To Represent Alex Rodriguez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
17. Gleeman, Aaron. "UPDATE: Nick Swisher has hired Dan Lozano, not Scott Boras". Hardball Talk. NBC Sports.
18. Dierkes, Tim (March 19, 2011). "Brian Wilson, Kurt Suzuki Now With Dan Lozano". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
19. Axisa, Mike (February 24, 2011). "Machado, Alonso & Valencia Hire Dan Lozano". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
20. Crasnick, Jerry (November 1, 2011). "Source: Carlos Beltran switches agents". ESPN. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
21. Mullen, Liz. "Lozano rebrands firm MVP Sports Group, signs 3 players". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
22. Rosenthal, Ken (October 23, 2011). "MLB Pujols certainly will hit the jackpot". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
23. Gonzalez, Alden (October 15, 2011). "Albert, Prince could be nearing end of reigns". ESPN. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
24. Nightengale, Bob (December 8, 2011). "From zero to $254 million, how the Pujols deal got done". USA Today. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
25. DiGiovanna, Mike (December 11, 2011). "Angels reach Albert Pujols on a personal level". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
26. Badenhausen, Kurt (December 8, 2011). "Albert Pujols Joins Baseball's Highest-Paid After $250 Million Deal". Forbes. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
27. "Albert Pujols' contract completed". ESPN. January 5, 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
28. Sullivan, Jeff (December 22, 2011). "Carlos Beltran, Cardinals Reach Two-Year Contract Agreement". SB Nation. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
29. Goold, Derrick (December 22, 2011). "Cardinals sign All-Star Beltran". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
30. Crasnick, Jerry (December 19, 2011). "Source: Phils, Jimmy Rollins reach deal". ESPN. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
31. Axisa, Mike (April 2, 2012). "Reds Agree To Extend Joey Votto". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
32. Sheldon, Mark (April 2, 2012). "Reds secure Votto with big 10-year extension". MLB.com. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
33. "Joey Votto agrees to 10-year deal". ESPN. April 4, 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
34. Rosenthal, Ken (April 2, 2012). "Reds may regret massive Votto contract". Fox Sports. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
35. Nightengale, Bob (April 2, 2012). "Joey Votto agrees to 10-year, $225 million deal with Reds". USA Today. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
36. Nightengale, Bob (September 22, 2012). "Albert Pujols, agent wary of rivals aiming to land star". USA Today. Retrieved 8 October 2012.