Jeff Berry (baseball agent)
Encyclopedia
Jeff Berry is an Attorney and Sports Agent.
He is Co-Head of Baseball at CAA Sports. CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports agency, and represents more than 650 of the world's best athletes in baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, in addition to icons in individual sports, Olympians, coaches, broadcasters, and other sports personalities.
. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
, where he was a catcher on the baseball team. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Berry signed with the Boston Red Sox
, and spent one season as a catcher in their minor league system. Following his playing career, Berry was a Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach at Oklahoma City University
, from 1995-1998. While at OCU, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University’s School of Law, graduating cum laude in May 1998. Berry is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and a certified player agent with the Major League Baseball Players Association
.
, Joe Urbon
and Brodie Van Wagenen
. CAA Sports' clients have participated in 53 All-Star games; won 14 Silver Slugger Awards; 11 Gold Gloves; four Rookie of the Year Awards; two Cy Young Awards; and a League MVP Trophy. CAA Sports represents 54 first round draft selections and has negotiated more $100 million in amateur draft signing bonuses.
Former major-league general manager Jim Bowden, writing for ESPN.com, described Berry as "an attorney who has a direct and no-nonsense negotiating style and vehemently fights for his clients. He is hard-nosed, at times stubborn and prefers to stay in the box in terms of negotiations."
Prior to joining CAA, Berry served as Vice President of IMG Baseball from 1999-2006.
Among others, Berry represents San Francisco Giants
catcher Buster Posey
, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, and All-Stars Mark Buehrle
(Chicago White Sox
), Chris Young (Arizona Diamondbacks
) and Corey Hart
(Milwaukee Brewers
).
Berry played a critical role in the blockbuster trade and subsequent contract extension for Roy Halladay
when Halladay was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays
to the Philadelphia Phillies
in December 2009.
Berry has been active in MLB contract arbitration, including presenting and winning an arbitration case for Hart against the Brewers in 2010. Hart later signed a three-year contract.
In 2008, Berry negotiated the largest signing bonus in baseball draft history, Posey’s $6.2 million deal with San Francisco. Berry has negotiated other precedent-setting draft deals: for Wil Myers of the Kansas City Royals
($2 million, a third-round record), A.J. Cole of the Washington Nationals
($2 million, a fourth-round record) and Dillon Maples of the Chicago Cubs
($2.5 million, a record for anyone picked after the third round).
Berry has also lobbied Major League Baseball and the players’ union for potential rule changes regarding home-plate collisions following Posey’s season ending injury in May 2011.
He is Co-Head of Baseball at CAA Sports. CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports agency, and represents more than 650 of the world's best athletes in baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis, and golf, in addition to icons in individual sports, Olympians, coaches, broadcasters, and other sports personalities.
Background
Berry was born in Owensboro, KentuckyOwensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
. He attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
, where he was a catcher on the baseball team. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Berry signed with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and spent one season as a catcher in their minor league system. Following his playing career, Berry was a Graduate Assistant Baseball Coach at Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University
Oklahoma City University, often referred to as OCU, is a coeducational, urban, private university historically affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
, from 1995-1998. While at OCU, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University’s School of Law, graduating cum laude in May 1998. Berry is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association and a certified player agent with the Major League Baseball Players Association
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
.
Sports Agent Career
Berry is a Co-Head of CAA Sports' Baseball division, along with Nez Balelo, Greg LandryGreg Landry
Gregory Paul Landry is a former American football player and coach who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1968 to 1981 and again in 1984...
, Joe Urbon
Joe Urbon
Joseph Curtis Urbon is a sports agent and former professional baseball player. He is a Co-Head of Baseball at CAA Sports...
and Brodie Van Wagenen
Brodie Van Wagenen
Brodie Van Wagenen is a Sports Agent and a Co-Head of the baseball division at CAA Sports.CAA Sports is a division of Creative Artists Agency, an entertainment and sports agency, and represents more than 650 of the world's best athletes in baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, tennis,...
. CAA Sports' clients have participated in 53 All-Star games; won 14 Silver Slugger Awards; 11 Gold Gloves; four Rookie of the Year Awards; two Cy Young Awards; and a League MVP Trophy. CAA Sports represents 54 first round draft selections and has negotiated more $100 million in amateur draft signing bonuses.
Former major-league general manager Jim Bowden, writing for ESPN.com, described Berry as "an attorney who has a direct and no-nonsense negotiating style and vehemently fights for his clients. He is hard-nosed, at times stubborn and prefers to stay in the box in terms of negotiations."
Prior to joining CAA, Berry served as Vice President of IMG Baseball from 1999-2006.
Among others, Berry represents San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
catcher Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
, the 2010 NL Rookie of the Year, and All-Stars Mark Buehrle
Mark Buehrle
Mark Alan Buehrle is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He has pitched his entire baseball career for the Chicago White Sox, starting the opening game every season from 2002 to 2006 and again from 2008 to 2011....
(Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
), Chris Young (Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
) and Corey Hart
Corey Hart
Corey Mitchell Hart is a Canadian musician, best known for such hit singles "Sunglasses at Night" and "Never Surrender". He has sold over 15 million records worldwide and scored nine consecutive US Billboard Top 40 hits. In Canada Hart has amassed 29 Top 40 hits, including 11 in the Top 10, over...
(Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
).
Berry played a critical role in the blockbuster trade and subsequent contract extension for Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
when Halladay was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in December 2009.
Berry has been active in MLB contract arbitration, including presenting and winning an arbitration case for Hart against the Brewers in 2010. Hart later signed a three-year contract.
In 2008, Berry negotiated the largest signing bonus in baseball draft history, Posey’s $6.2 million deal with San Francisco. Berry has negotiated other precedent-setting draft deals: for Wil Myers of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
($2 million, a third-round record), A.J. Cole of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
($2 million, a fourth-round record) and Dillon Maples of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
($2.5 million, a record for anyone picked after the third round).
Berry has also lobbied Major League Baseball and the players’ union for potential rule changes regarding home-plate collisions following Posey’s season ending injury in May 2011.
External links
- Greenberg, Jon "Buehrle's Perfect Circle", "ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
", Bristol, Connecticut, 24 July 2009. Retrieved on 2011-03-21. - Dinich, Heather "Posey, the consummate student-athlete, key to Florida State's success", "ESPN.comESPN.comESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
", Bristol, Connecticut, 15 April 2008. Retrieved on 2011-03-22. - Casey Close To Leaving CAA
- "Baseball agent Close leaving CAA", Sports Business Journal, Liz Mullen, February 28, 2011