Wikipedia

Draft:Matt Hannaford

Matt Hannaford
BornJanuary 7, 1981
Thousand Oaks, California, United States
OccupationSports agent
EmployerALIGND Sports Agency
Websitehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hannaford-a9b9966b/

Matt Hannaford is an MLBPA certified player agent and the President and CEO of ALIGND Sports Agency, a boutique athlete management firm said to have been built to represent not only the best players in Major League Baseball but those inspired to make the biggest impact on society and future generations.[1] Prior to forming ALIGND, Hannaford was the co-founder and Executive Vice President of MVP Sports Group where he was influential in building an agency that had negotiated over $1.7 Billion Dollars in contracts prior to his departure.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Career

edit

Hannaford grew up in Sacramento, California. He played baseball at Elk Grove High School, a school that has produced more Major League Baseball Players on opening day rosters in 2019 than any other high school in the continental United States.[8] Upon graduation, Hannaford continued his playing career at Sacramento City College[9] before transferring to Long Beach State where he would complete a degree in Business Finance. In 2002, Hannaford began working at Beverly Hills Sports Council,[10] an agency that represented players such as Barry Bonds,[11][12] Curt Schilling,[13] Jose Canseco,[12] Rickey Henderson,[14] Mike Piazza,[13] Trevor Hoffman,[15] Brett Saberhagen[14] and George Brett.[16]

MVP Sports Group

edit

In May 2010, Hannaford left BHSC and helped form MVP Sports Group.[17] Hannaford was influential in the management of such stars as Manny Machado[18] who signed a 10 year, $300 Million deal in February 2019 with the San Diego Padres,[19] 3x MVP Award Winner Albert Pujols[20][21][22] and MVP Award Winner Joey Votto.[23]

Hannaford also represented some of the game's most popular players prior to their retirement including Brian Wilson[24] and Kurt Suzuki.[1] Beyond the stars in the Major Leagues, Hannaford has been responsible for representing player's including Michael Taylor,[25][26] J.D. Davis,[27] Dylan Carlson,[28][29] Austin Riley,[30] Isiah Kiner Falefa[31] and Mauricio Dubon.[2]

ALIGND Sports Agency

edit

In October 2020, Hannaford left MVP Sports Group [32] and launched ALIGND Sports Agency. That off-season he negotiated Liam Hendriks' $54 million dollar contract with the Chicago White Sox, a deal that drew widespread praise throughout the industry.[33][34] On August 1, 2022 the Atlanta Braves inked Austin Riley to a 10 year contract worth $212 Million Dollars. A deal negotiated by Hannaford and the largest contract in Braves history.[3][4]

At ALIGND Hannaford remains focused on building an agency with the intent of expanding the sports representation business beyond simply the negotiation of contracts and deeper into the lives of the clients who they serve.[1]

Contracts

edit

Hannaford played an integral part in 3 of the top 10 largest contracts in baseball history,[35] including Manny Machado's 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres, Albert Pujols' 10 year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Joey Votto's 10 year, $225 million extension with the Cincinnati Reds.

Hannaford negotiated multiple record breaking contracts recently. In January of 2021, he negotiated a $54 million dollar contract for All-Star Closer Liam Hendriks which paid Hendriks the largest AAV of any relief pitcher in history,[36][37] and in 2022 he negotiated the largest contract in Braves history, a 10-year $212 Million Dollar contract for Austin Riley.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hannaford-a9b9966b/ [self-published source]
  2. ^ "Released by Marlins, Keefer awaits The Call". Davis Enterprise. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Dan Lozano's MVP Sports Group Hires Baseball Agent Jeff Randazzo". SportsAgentBlog.com. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  4. ^ Ardaya, Fabian (February 19, 2019). "A look back at another 10-year contract: the Angels' signing of Albert Pujols". The Athletic.
  5. ^ Todd, Jeff (February 21, 2019). "Padres Sign Manny Machado". MLB Trade Rumors.
  6. ^ Axisa, Mike (April 2, 2012). "Reds Agree To Extend Joey Votto". MLB Trade Rumors.
  7. ^ Stephen, Eric (December 5, 2013). "Brian Wilson re-signs with Dodgers". True Blue LA.
  8. ^ Cooper, J.J. (March 29, 2019). "2019 MLB Opening Day Rosters By The Numbers". Baseball America.
  9. ^ "Panther Alumni". Sacramento City College. Archived from the original on 4 October 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Dan Lozano Leaves Beverly Hills Sports Council With Entire Stable of MLB Players". Forbes.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  11. ^ Shaikin, Bill (April 8, 2007). "Bonds' agent is perfect for him". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ a b VERDUCCI, TOM (June 4, 1993). "BIG DEALS". Sports Illustrated.
  13. ^ a b Mullen, Liz (December 16, 2002). "Ex-AMG hockey agents team up with Beverly Hills Sports Council". Sports Business Journal.
  14. ^ a b Nightengale, Bob (October 8, 1994). "Even Agents Taking a Hit During Baseball Strike". Los Angeles Times.
  15. ^ Associated Press (January 12, 2011). "All-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman retires". Newsday.
  16. ^ Links, Zach (January 1, 2014). "Dennis Gilbert Reflects On His Career As Top Agent". MLB Trade Rumors.
  17. ^ "Player agent Dan Lozano leaves agency, brings Albert Pujols and others with him". USA Today. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  18. ^ "'Finally a Padre,' Machado arrives in Arizona". 22 February 2019.
  19. ^ Acee, Kevin (February 22, 2019). "Finally a Padre,' Machado arrives in Arizona". The San Diego Union Tribune.
  20. ^ BERNACCHIO, ADAM (November 24, 2009). "Albert Pujols Unanimously Wins NL MVP". Bleacher Report.
  21. ^ "Pujols beats out Howard for NL MVP award". November 19, 2008.
  22. ^ "Pujols named NL MVP". November 15, 2005.
  23. ^ Dierkes, Tim (November 22, 2010). "Joey Votto Wins NL MVP Award". MLB Trade Rumors.
  24. ^ "Free Agent Profile". MLBTradeRumors.com. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Royals Sign Michael A. Taylor". 30 November 2020.
  26. ^ Payne, Erik (May 15, 2018). "MICHAEL A. TAYLOR IS THE BEST DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER IN BASEBALL — RIGHT NOW". The Nats Blog.
  27. ^ Pacific Coast League (September 5, 2018). "J.D. Davis wins PCL Batting Title". MILB.COM.
  28. ^ Woo, Katie. "For Rookie of the Year candidates Dylan Carlson and Nick Madrigal, the path to the big leagues started as high school teammates". The New York Times.
  29. ^ Callis, Jim (September 17, 2019). "Here's the final Top 100 Prospects list of the year". MLB.com.
  30. ^ "2019 Atlanta Braves Top 10 Prospects Chat". December 3, 2018.
  31. ^ "Home". aligndsports.com.
  32. ^ @JonHeyman (26 October 2020). "Agent news: Hearing Matt Hannaford, the longtime righthand man of Dan Lozano at MVP, is leaving the agency. Hannafo…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ "MLB Now on Liam Hendriks deal | 01/12/2021". MLB.com.
  34. ^ "Inside the Clubhouse: Liam Hendriks, Brad Hand and the free-agent pitching market". 18 January 2021.
  35. ^ "MLB Contracts". Spotrac.
  36. ^ "White Sox sign reliever Liam Hendriks to record-breaking contract". 12 January 2021.
  37. ^ "Liam Hendriks named to All-Star team as replacement". 5 July 2019.
edit
This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.
Categories:

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Matt_Hannaford&oldid=1231698432"