A California state judge ruled that Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. owes Big League Advance nearly $3.74 million as he tries to void an agreement to pay the firm 10% of his future MLB earnings.
The Friday ruling means Tatis must abide by the arbitrator’s October decision, which determined he must pay BLA an arbitration award of roughly $3.23 million, plus $240,515 in interest, $250,000 in attorneys’ fees, and $14,349 in other costs, totalling just under $3.74 million.
Tatis signed a futures earnings contract with BLA in 2017, when he was 18 years old, under which the firm paid him $2 million in exchange for 10% of his future MLB earnings. Tatis stopped making payments to BLA in 2024, and in September of that year, BLA initiated arbitration proceedings to recoup money it claimed it was owed. The $3.74 million arbitration award reflects the amount Tatis owes in the wake of stopping payments.
In June of last year, Tatis sued BLA, claiming the future earnings contract was predatory. In September of last year, the arbitrator determined that BLA was due the nearly $3.74 million award.
The following month, Tatis filed a petition in San Diego County circuit court, contending that the agreement with BLA should be voided under the California Financing Law (CFL). But according to California state judge Judy S. Bae, Tatis filed his petition too late.
