Texas Rangers Reliever David Robertson Negotiates Contracts Sans Agent

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Reliever David Robertson is one of the very few professional athletes who represent himself.

The 15-year veteran, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Texas Rangers as a free agent this winter, handled the discussions with general manager Chris Young.

No agent. No lawyer. Nada.

Robertson started representing himself in 2019 when he signed a one-year deal with the Phillies. He had Tommy John surgery and missed 2020 and much of 2021 before signing with the Rays. He signed with the Cubs before the 2022 season and was traded to the Phillies that August. He was a free agent again after the season and, a year ago, signed a one-year deal with the Mets, who traded him to the Marlins at the deadline. And now he's with the Rangers. He turns 39 on April 9.

"Chris [Young] was very easy to deal with," Robertson said. "The difference between me and an agent is I'm going to have a more personal conversation with whoever I'm dealing with, whichever GM I'm talking to. I can have a candid conversation with him about what I'm looking for, where I'd like to land, and if it works out, great. If it doesn't, I just move on, and there's no hard feelings over it, and no one in the media ever finds out."

Robertson and Young both felt he was a perfect fit for the Rangers bullpen. 

"Obviously, I would like to win another World Series," said Robertson, who won a title with the Yankees in 2009 and lost a title with the Phillies against the Astros in 2019. "I'm not getting any younger, and I still think I have what it takes to pitch in high leverage in the backend."

Why did he start representing himself?

For one, he's like the ability to have candid conversations with teams instead of an agent. Of course, he also doesn't have to pay an agent fee, which is typically between 5-10% of a contract. Plus, he's near the end of his career, so he keeps his contract relatively simple. He doesn't use a lawyer, either. He's truly solo during negotiations.

"But my wife takes 50%, though," he joked.

"First of all, I like the process. I enjoy being able to talk to the teams and kind of see where they're going. I wouldn't say that I'm ready to become an agent, but I do enjoy the process," he said. "I find that it's easier to have those conversations up front and be very open about it, especially when it's just me. So if I screw it up, it just falls on my shoulders."