CC Sabathia joins Roc Nation

ByDARREN ROVELL
January 16, 2014, 9:43 PM

— -- Roc Nation Sports, the sports agency started by Jay Z, has signed New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia and will represent him on and off the field.

"CC exemplifies everything Roc Nation looks for in an athlete and a partner," Roc Nation Sports president Juan Perez said in a statement.

The agency's official Twitter account tweeted a picture of Sabathia signing with the firm:

Welcome @CC_Sabathia to the @RocNation family! #RocNationSports pic.twitter.com/UIhtsdbOKe

— Roc Nation (@RocNation) January 17, 2014

Sabathia, 33, has at least three years left on his contract, which comes with a guaranteed $76 million. But when contract conversations do come up, which won't take place until before the 2017 season at the earliest, Roc Nation spokesman Ron Berkowitz said Jay Z and Perez plan on negotiating the pitcher's deal.

Sabathia has an endorsement deal with the Jordan brand, and in the past couple of years has done commercials for both Pepsi and Subway.

Sabathia had been with the firm now known as Legacy Sports Group his entire career.

Half of Roc Nation's clients -- New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and now Sabathia -- play in New York.

Last month, one of the firm's other clients, Robinson Cano, left the Yankees to sign a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Jay Z's other clients include Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and WNBA player Skylar Diggins.

In some cases, Roc Nation Sports splits its business with other firms. Cano's contract was done in partnership with CAA. CAA and Roc Nation Sports have rights to Cruz's on-field contract, but IMG represents him exclusively for endorsements.

To this point, Roc Nation Sports has not signed a player in this year's NFL draft class.

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Sabathia, 33, has at least three years left on his contract, which comes with a guaranteed $76 million. But when contract conversations do come up, which won't take place until before the 2017 season at the earliest, Roc Nation spokesman Ron Berkowitz said Jay Z and Perez plan on negotiating the pitcher's deal.

Sabathia has an endorsement deal with the Jordan brand, and in the past couple of years has done commercials for both Pepsi and Subway.

Sabathia had been with the firm now known as Legacy Sports Group his entire career.

Half of Roc Nation's clients -- New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and now Sabathia -- play in New York.

Last month, one of the firm's other clients, Robinson Cano, left the Yankees to sign a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Seattle Mariners. Jay Z's other clients include Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant and WNBA player Skylar Diggins.

In some cases, Roc Nation Sports splits its business with other firms. Cano's contract was done in partnership with CAA. CAA and Roc Nation Sports have rights to Cruz's on-field contract, but IMG represents him exclusively for endorsements.

To this point, Roc Nation Sports has not signed a player in this year's NFL draft class.

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