U.S. agent drops Cuban phenom 'Lazarito' after death threat

Less than two weeks after Cuban phenom Lazaro "Lazarito" Armenteros was deemed eligible to sign with an MLB club, the U.S.-based agent representing him has dropped him as a client after receiving a threat against his life by the youngster's buscone in the Dominican Republic.

Charles Hairston, an agent at Culture39, didn't disclose the identity of Lazarito's buscone - an investor who assists with training and provides housing and clothing in exchange for a chunk of the player’s future salary - but told Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports the conflict arose over the Dominican's desire to have the 16-year-old sign as soon as possible.

The animosity escalated after more than 140 scouts showed up to Lazarito's showcase earlier this month at the San Diego Padres' complex in the Dominican Republic.

"I feel for the kid. He is truly special. We are still looking forward to working with him when he comes to the United States once his situation is resolved," said Hairston, whose family has produced three MLB players.

"We already have several sponsorship and major endorsement deals lined up for him, not to mention his own clothing line which we are launching soon. But when his safety and ours is put in jeopardy, we had to think about what is most important in life."

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Already drawing interest from multiple MLB teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, Lazarito is subject to international bonus-pool restrictions, which impose a 100 percent tax for every dollar a club spends over their allotted budget (and prohibits the team from signing an international player for more than $300,000 in the next two signing periods).

His present circumstances appear rather harried, though, according to FOX Sports, as the young infielder (along with his family) is seemingly being held against his will by the person (or persons) who stand to profit from his inaugural MLB deal.