Yoenis Cespedes switches representation, hiring Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports

Red Sox slugger Yoenis Cespedes has switched representation and is joining Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, according a tweet from the company. Cespedes will work with Jay-Z and agent Brodie Van Wagenen, who will handle the baseball side of things as WEEI.com's Alex Speier reported earlier today.

Cespedes is the firm's fourth baseball client, joining teammate and compatriot Rusney Castillo, Yankees starter CC Sabathia, and of course, Mariners infielder Robinson Cano. Roc Nation represents seven non-baseball athletes, including NFL players Victor Cruz, Geno Smith, Hakeem Nicks and Ndamokung Suh, NBA players Kevin Durant and James Young, and WNBA star Skylar Diggins.

Previously, Cespedes was represented by Adam Katz of Wasserman Media Group, who has suffered a tough offseason after losing both Cespedes and Orioles slugger and soon-to-be free agent Nelson Cruz.

Cespedes, who was traded to the Red Sox in exchange for Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes at the trade deadline, will become a free agent after the 2015 season. The move to Roc Nation is especially interesting for the Red Sox, as they will once again have to negotiate with Jay-Z and Van Wagenen after working with the pair to sign Castillo to a seven-year, $72.5 million contract in late August.

While it is too early to know which specific teams will aggressively pursue Cespedes next winter, almost everyone will be in on him due to his age (30, when he hits free agency), as well as the lack of right-handed power bats available in the game today.