Report: Jay-Z 'intimately involved' in Robinson Cano's free agency

Robinson Cano hired Jay-Z's company Roc Nation Sports in April to run his negotiations. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images) A man named Brodie Van Wagenen is the agent

Robinson Cano hired Jay-Z's company Roc Nation Sports in April to run his negotiations. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

A man named Brodie Van Wagenen is the agent from CAA primarily dealing with the free agent negotiations of Robinson Cano.

But Jay Z, who founded CAA's partner Roc Nation Sports, has been "intimately involved in all areas" of the proceedings, Van Wagenen told MLB Network Radio on Sunday.

“That has been true for the last six months,” Van Wagenen said. “It's certainly true now. Jay is a very, very successful businessman, who has a keen understanding of value, a keen understanding of brands, and a keen understand of what this player, Robinson Cano, wants to accomplish in his career.

“He's been at the table both in strategy sessions and in preparation,” he added. “And he absolutely has, and will continue to be, involved in the actual negotiations with potential suitors.”

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Cano, who turned 31 last month, is one of the prized free agents on the market, as he's finished in the top six in AL MVP voting each of the last four seasons. The second baseman, who has a .309 career batting average, has hit at least 25 home runs in each of the last five seasons, and last year had his third 100-RBI season.

“What I think people are starting to recognize as well is that players of this magnitude don't come along very often,” Van Wagenen said. “And the opportunity to acquire them is limited. And when you want to try to acquire impact, middle-of-the-order, dynamic players, rare talent, you can only do it in a few areas.”

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