Close, anativeof Columbus, Ohio, was never regarded as a strong college baseball candidate by Ohio State. Think Sidney Crosby, who is one of his premier clients and who he negotiated a 12 year, $104 million+ deal with the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguin franchise. His clients include Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Masahiro Tanaka, Dexter Fowler, and Paul Goldschmidt. Close, 47, is part of an induction class that also includes former Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr, longtime tennis coach Brian Eisner, softball player Sara Griffin, swimmer Alecia Humphrey and cross country and track star Molly McClimon. It could also require that a Player Agent provides restitution to players for damages or losses he has wrongfully caused. [18] In December 2013, it was announced Close would represent Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka. He allegedlydepartedfrom Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2010 to form a new company with long-time basketball agent David Falk. The couple has two children; Chistian and Kaia. To complement his appearance, he has brown eyes and blond grey hair. "I think that always chaffed him," Larkin said in a profile of Close that appeared in The New York Times last year. Additionally, he was inducted alongside former Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr, veteran tennis coach Brian Eisner, softball player Sara Griffin, swimmer Alecia Humphrey, and cross country and track athlete Molly McClimon to the Hall of Fame. The 49 clients he manages have a total of $1.7 billion in contracts of which he makes $64 million in commissions. Barnetts first sports contract was with a Cricket player. Aces. It's a trait Close brought with him to Michigan, where on Saturday, he will join the school's Hall of Honor in a ceremony during the Wolverines' home men's basketball game against Minnesota. Casey Close - $40.7 million With annual commissions of just under $65 million, Casey Close is one of the more unusual sports agents in that he was actually a minor league baseball player. Retired: John McGraw , Bobby Cox , Earl Weaver , . [7], Close was drafted by the New York Yankees in the seventh round of the 1986 MLB Draft. That move was the first step in earning $27.4 million a year for handling the contracts of Albert Pujols, Carlos Beltran, Joey Votto, and Josh Donaldson. Casey is an American sports agent as well as a former college and professional baseball player. In his final year at Michigan, Close batted .440 with 19 home runs and 72 RBI, earning first-team All-America honors as well as being recognized as the country's top collegiate player. Close's name can be found throughout the Michigan record book. It is rare to see someone with that kind of experience suffer severe consequences no matter the allegations that may be floating around. Once Freeman found that out, he fired Close. He left IMG in 2006 to be a part of Creative Artists Agency. Twenty years later, Close has no qualms about how things turned out. Wow if true this changes everything. Mendes works for the Gestifute International sports management agency and has the unique honor of being chosen as FIFAs Agent of the Year an award won by polling his peers. 10. Dota 2 Lima Major Bracket Set After Incredibly Close Group Stage, La Ligas Javier Tebas Says CVC Deal Can Close Gap To Premier League, Not Closing Deals? Other noteworthy contracts Close has landed include a five-year, $125 million extension for Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard in 2000 and a six-year, $206.5 million deal for righthander Zack Greinke with the D-backs in 2016. We attribute much of this strength to growing investor optimism that the ongoing war in Ukraine will keep crop prices elevated and thus continue []. As for Casey Close, Excel Agency has refused to release a statement following Freeman's decision to fire the firm. He's so proficient in his second profession that you'd never imagine someone so bright to have been a former player, Beane, who deals with Close on a regular basis, said. Excel Sports Management is part of the Management Consulting industry, and located in New York, United States. Fox Sports Radio's Doug Gottlieb reported on Wednesday that Casey Close, Freeman's now-former agent, never told him of the offer made by the Atlanta Braves, knowing that Freeman would return.. He happens to be Derek Jeter's agent. [4], As a senior in 1986, Close won the batting triple crown in the Big Ten Conference with a .469 batting average, seven home runs and 19 RBIs. As a result, he relocated to Michigan, where he joined a team that contained future major leaguers Barry Larkin, Hal Morris, and Chris Sabo.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'biographyhost_com-box-3','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-3-0'); Casey Close is a former American professional baseball player turned sports agent who played for the Michigan Wolverine baseball team during his college years and three minor league teams,Oneonta Yankees, Columbus Clippers, and Calgary Cannons. He ends every year with $34.3 million dollars in commissions, but not every success can be measured by dollars alone. Haley & Close Team works out of the Niskayuna office and can be contacted at (primary). expected to get 373 hits in 1000 at-bats. What is the Height of Casey Close? Freddie Freeman fired his former agent, Casey Close, yesterday. He hit 0.329 with six home runs in 1984 while pitching to a 2-0 record and 3.19 ERA and in 2010, he was inducted into the CCBL Hall of Fame. "There was some miscommunication, some lack of communication, and having worked with Alex Alex was not the problem. Similarly, his wife has an impressive net worth of $1.5 Million. When you are trying to be the best at what you do as a sports agent, it can only help to have the best players and clients to help you along. Close pocketed an arbitration case against Yankees general manager Brian Cashman in 1999, resulting in a $5 million compensation for Jeter. [29], Close is married to Gretchen Carlson, who was selected as Miss America in 1989 and was the anchor of The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, on the Fox News Channel. Darren Heitner created Sports Agent Blog as a New Year's Resolution on December 31, 2005. His work has influenced many fields of study, including psychiatry, archeology,, Read More 20 Carl Jung Quotes That Apply to BusinessContinue, The past few months have seen a lot of activity in the tech industry as many acquisitions have been made and numerous innovations brought to light. NEW YORK (AP) Freddie Freeman's former agent and his company sued a radio host for libel on Thursday, alleging Doug Gottlieb falsely claimed Casey Close never informed the first baseman of . Updated. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_11',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Closewasadamant about building on his previous experiences. Fox Sports Radio's Doug Gottlieb reported on Wednesday that Freeman fired Close and . Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Brexit Peters Out As Windsor Framework Close To Agreement, Oracle Reports After The Close On 3/9 -- Options Contracts Expire The Next Day, Alex Murdaugh Trial Heads To Jury Deliberations After Closing Arguments, Funny Girl With Lea Michele To Close On Broadway In September, Get Up Close With Buffett & Gabelli: FBI Update - February 28, Closing The Gaping Hole In Ransomware Defense. Currently, Close has a contract of $1.2 Billion with 20 clients of Excel Sports Management. He has signed top tier talent from several NFL teams, including Justin Houston, Terrell Suggs, and Patrick Peterson. Lozanos success is directly attributed to his decision to go out on his own and create his MVP Sports Group after working for the Beverly Hills Sports Council (unrelated to the city of Beverly Hills government). At the time, Close saw a shortstop with star potential who had, like himself, been raised with Midwestern values. And I remember asking myself: Whoa, back up a little bit. For The Wolverines, Closewasa four-year letter-winner. Close was determined to build on his experiences. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-3','ezslot_14',153,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-3-0'); They met through a blind date setup. Since the end of his own playing days, Close understood that if he was ever going to make it in a cut-throat, high-stakes management world where some agents strive to become bigger than the athletes they represent, he couldn't stray far from his roots. Her talent has shown other women they too can succeed in the competitive world of sports negotiation. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world. Their annual commission take is $65 million. Freeman signed his deal with the Dodgers in March. With annual commissions of just under $65 million, Casey Close is one of the more unusual sports agents in that he was actually a minor league baseball player. So there are more football players who are pursuing contracts, spreading out the wealth as it were among the available pool of sports agents. In order to access this exclusive content you must have a Baseball America Account. ", "This must be the worst loss of the season.". What is the fallout from this? Closehita grand slam as a freshman to help Michigan win the match with Stanford and progress to the College World Series final four and alsoplayedcollegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) in 1984 and 1985. The closure will come a year after Michele first stepped into the show. The outcome stunned all involved including Freeman, who envisioned finishing his career in Atlanta before his agent Casey Close issued an ultimatum, giving the Braves an hour to accept one of two . Brown said he spoke with Tucker's agent, Casey . In 2016, Gretchen Carlsonfileda sexual harassment lawsuit against the late Fox News CEO, Roger Ailes. He annually is recognized among the top sports agents in the business, often plying his trade with little. He was a two-time 'Academic All-Big Ten' selectionand received the 'Big Ten Medal of Honor' in 1986. Casey hadarough start in his career debut with the 1986 Oneonta Yankees, hitting .245/.313/.382, but his 38 RBI led the team, beating out potential big leaguers Jim Leyritz, Morris, Kevin Maas, and Turner Ward. 12 Hammersmith Grove London W6 7AP United Kingdom t: +44 20 8846 3000 f: +44 20 8846 3090. 2023 Forbes Media LLC. This year,. We have a treat in next weeks new monthly issue of Forbes Billionaire Investor. At 11:30 a.m. Monday, Christian and Shannon Waszak had . They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. But the total of those contracts, $342 million, leaves him behind other agents who have only 75 percent of the number of clients Struth has. The agency also lost Trevor Story this offseason.. He was tied for sixth in the PCL with 12 outfield assists. Thus, he went to work for a small sports marketing agency in Ohio and soon got hold of a big breaks and good fortune. The total of those contracts is only $534 million, which comes out to a tidy 10 percent per contract on average. https://t.co/kMNToLySME, F.P. He manages 55 players contracts that total $786.4 million. Active: Terry Francona , Rocco Baldelli , Dave Roberts , . Close may have considered teaming up with Falk at one point, but in the end, he chose Jeff Schwartz, the current President of Excel Sports Management, a former IMG co-worker. You need to communicate your offering in a way that leads to an emphatic yes. You could probably switch the #5 and #6 spots on the list because Jeff Schwartz is the founder and owner of Excel Sports Management, the agency Casey Close is employed by. In 2011, he was namedto'The University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor', which was foundedin1978 to honor people who have made valuable strides to the athletic tradition as athletes, coaches, or administrators while also enhancing the University of Michigan's image and reputation. Photo by Courtesy of Excel Sports Management, Related by employment: Excel Sports Management. Closes name first gained prominence in baseball as a player at Michigan, where his grand slam as a freshman propelled the Wolverines to the final four at the 1983 College World Series. (By the way, if you divided their total by 2 they each would make the list individually.) Casey Close has made a bigger name off the field than he did on it. Honorable Mention: Diana Day under review, 10 Things You Didnt Know about Kimberly Clark CEO Thomas J. Falk, 20 Carl Jung Quotes That Apply to Business. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',152,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-2-0'); While at Excel Sports Management, Paul Goldschmidt, Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw, Jason Heyward, and Walker Buehler were amongst his Excel clients as of Forbes' 2020 agents list; he holds thesixthrank on that list. Casey Close is a sports agent and former professional baseball player. Excel's baseball client list includes Paul. That is an indication of his negotiating skill and power. Close later negotiated for Jeter what was then the second-largest contract in major league history, a 10-year, $189 million deal in 2000. He was a two-time 'Academic All-Big Te'n selection and received the 'Big Ten Medal of Honor' in 1986. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-banner-1-0'); Close hasgot himself featured all over the Michigan record book, as he is the all-time leader in home runs (46) with a total of 190 runs scored for Michigan, as well as being second in games played (229), third in runs batted in with the achievement of 185, and fourth in batting average (.373) i.e. His $33.3 million earnings come from managing 30 clients with contracts totaling more than $665 million. There are explanations. Along the way he has landed some of the most lucrative contracts in baseball history for his clients. did not communicate a contract offer to a client -- is not only wholly false, but also is an attack on the . Atlanta Braves Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Agent Casey Close strongly denied a tweet from Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb that he withheld from Freddie Freeman the Braves ' final contract. Caption: Casey Close with his family, (Sources: Salary and Net Worth) Education The Astros' All-Star right fielder had sought a $7.5 million salary for 2023 from the Astros, who countered with an offer of $5 million. [9], In February 2011, Close announced he was leaving CAA. Such is the case of Volker Struth, who has focused on signing some of the worlds biggest soccer stars in what is arguably the best soccer league in the world Bundesliga. When you are the player, you are the star and those are the people who should have their name pushed out in front, Close said in a 2011 interview with the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News. Close would have finished fourth in the league on average if he had qualified. He earned a law degree while playing his professional career and represented NFL players during his time as an active Kansas City player. AI is used for both industrial and work-related purposes, and the aim of these machines and gadgets, Read More How Close Are We to Seamless Talking AI Assistants?Continue, Amrish Rau is the CEO of one of Indias largest digital payment platforms and can hold its own when compared with other international firms. This means that he is the head of one of the biggest personal care corporations that can be, Read More 10 Things You Didnt Know about Kimberly Clark CEO Thomas J. FalkContinue, Carl Jung was a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who was born in Switzerland in 1875. The two connected immediately, beginning a relationship that has seen both the player's and agent's stock skyrocket. . He had always been fascinated with numbers and negotiations. Reports came in that Freeman was signing with Los Angeles late at night on March 16. Close outperformed outfield mates Mike Kingery and Mickey Brantley while with the 1989 Calgary Cannons, a Seattle Mariners affiliate, hitting.330/.397/.503. We are immediately evaluating all legal options to address the reckless publication of inaccurate information. Casey Close added, I will not stand by as the circumstances surrounding Freddie Freemans departure from Atlanta are mischaracterized. Negotiation skills. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Under Section 5(B), which governs prohibited conduct and grounds for disciplinary action, is a provision that says no Player Agent shall engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, misrepresentation, or other conduct which reflects adversely on his fitness to serve as a Player Agent (See Section 5(B)(15)). So he traveled to Michigan, joining a Wolverines' roster that included future major leaguers Barry Larkin, Hal Morris and Chris Sabo. She manages only 13 contracts to date, but the total of those 13 contracts exceeds $560 million. Bartelsteins claim to sports agency fame is that he negotiated the contract of Cleveland Cavaliers John Williams, a sixth man who end up with a contract of $26.5 million a year, making him higher paid than Michael Jordan in his highest paid year. Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb tweeted a report on Wednesday night that Close withheld the Atlanta. Always wondered why he wasn't given a shot in the majors. Statement from Casey Close: "Doug Gottlieb tweeted a wholly inaccurate characterization of our negotiations with the Atlanta Braves on behalf of Freddie Freeman. My contact was telling me, I think I found the perfect person for you because youre young, youre single, you work too hard, youre never around on the weekends, and she was doing a lot of the same things, Chase told Baseball America in 2020. Additionally, you can subscribe to Baseball America's newsletter and receive all of our rankings, analysis, prospect insight & more delivered to your inbox every day. Somehow, along the way, Close has become a star in his own right. Dumitrascu has a growing and popular reputation of being all business when it comes to contract negotiations, something club owners and management are very comfortable with. Hear what Mario Gabelli has to say about successful investing, and learn how Warren Buffett became the best in the world at what he does. In 2006, Close left IMG and joined Creative Artists Agency (CAA). However, those who want to do so, Read More How Much Does it Cost to Attend a Boston Celtics Game?Continue. The reason his name may have passed your eyes is because he was responsible for negotiating the largest deal in Major League Baseball history a thirteen year, $325 million dollar for Miami Marlins Giancarlo Stanton. Freddie Freeman's ex-agent Casey Close is suing Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel, a Thursday legal filing revealed. Casey Close (56 years old) is an American baseball player and sports agent who was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 21, 1963. Subsequently, Gottlieb has acknowledged that his information was incorrect and deleted the tweet in question. Agent Casey Close sued Fox Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb for libel Thursday, . He has signed Paul Pogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Romelu Lukaku, Blaise Matuidi, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Marco Verratti. 10 Things you Didnt Know About Amrish Rau. Close helped negotiate a six-year, $162 million deal for Freeman with the Los Angeles Dodgers in free agency this past offseason. Casey Closeplayedfor the Wolverines at Michigan University for three years, 1983-1986. He has been recognized several times in the Forbes ranking of highest-earning sports agents. That's what I'll say, and I'll leave it at that. Mendes represents the second tier of sports agents, with his annual contract commissions totaling just under $77 million a year. The timing is impossible to ignore. Visit Haley & Close Team's team profile on Coldwell Banker Prime Properties. Its one thing to try to steer the client towards the biggest deal. According to Gottlieb, this information was not disclosed to Freeman because Close knew that Freeman would have accepted the offer. As technology becomes increasingly intertwined with day-to-day life, cybersecurity has taken on a newfound importance. He played for the Michigan Wolverines baseball team from 1983 to 1986. By trade, Boras is a lawyer and has amassed $2 billion worth of contracts to his credit. [16] In April 2011, it was announced he would be starting and heading the baseball division of Excel Sports Management. He attended the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship after graduating from Thomas Worthington High School in Worthington, Ohio. Negotiating contracts for Andre Ethier, Adam Jones, Ryan Braun, and Jean Segura are a part of the more than $578 million in business he has brought to the company. "[6], In January 2011, Close was named as one of the 2011 inductees into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor. Bay Area based for now. This is a team effort, and some may say that this qualifies the tandem from being on the list. For his expertise and negotiating skills he receives $28.9 million a year. Contrast that to baseball, which has a maximum of 40 players under contract for 30 teams, and the NBA which has 13 player rosters and 30 teams. But for a high-powered sports agent with deep Midwestern roots, whose clients include New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard, closing the deal with integrity has always remained a top priority. In 2008, the Sports Business Journal called him one of the country's 20 most influential agents. Right now, Rosenoff lives in the South American nation of Colombia, on . Numbers and negotiations had always piqued his interest. Through attracting a total of 55 clients, he has established himself as one of the worlds elite sports agents. Likely leaving sometime early in 2023. He has persuaded 70 NFL clients to run with his agency and has received more than a little media attention over the last few years. Freeman did not comment on Gottliebs report. The 20 Richest Baseball Players of All-Time (As of 2022), The 20 Richest Poker Players in the World as of 2022, How Ali Wong Achieved a Net Worth of $3 Million, Eight Reasons to go to French Polynesias Marquesas Islands, How Lisa Rinna Achieved a Net Worth of $10 Million, 20 Cities with The Worst Weather in Europe. ", "My putt was a foot from the hole, I blinked and it was four feet from the hole. BRUTAL. Tebas says the "collective project" will accelerate growth for all professional Spanish clubs. Carlson's lawsuit was settled for a staggering $20 million by the FOX Company on behalf of Ailes. Also, the playing career of the average NFL player is significantly shorter than other major sports, making it difficult to lock in a long term contract with management. The suit involves Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes and one of the cable channel's former star anchors, Gretchen Carlson. Derek Jeter says Casey Close is a man of integrity, honesty and transparency Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees hits a single against the Toronto Blue Jays Fans' opinions on Casey Close is. "[27] Close later stated that all offers made by the Braves to Freeman were properly communicated to him. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_6',148,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Heplayedfor the Oneonta Yankees of the New York-Pennsylvania League in 1986 when he was 22 years old. "That's just the way I've always wanted to live my life," Close said in a telephone interview on Wednesday. He had a great arm, power and a nice bat. "That's a great thing to be able to have.". Casey Close, the former agent of Los Angeles Dodgers star Freddie Freeman, has spoken. He held the recognition of the 'Big Ten Player of the Year' and an'All-America First-team' pick by both the ABCA and Baseball America in 1986, in addition to being a team captain his senior year. Casey Close becomes partner in Excel Sports Management Major League Baseball (MLB) agent Casey Close has joined New York-based agency Excel Sports Management, becoming a partner in the firm. Since our last review on November 7, shares of ASIX have climbed over 16% and more than doubled the 7% rise in the S&P 500 during the same period. She interviewed virtually every newsmaker. Football has 32 teams with 53 players on their roster, for a total of 1696 potential contracts. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. He apparently put his own money over his clients best interests. Casey Close has The Captain in his corner. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4-0'); CaseyClose, full name Casey Richard Close was born on 21 October 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Casey Close represented some big stars in addition to Derek Jeter Although most people will remember Casey Close for representing Derek Jeter, he has worked with other massive superstars. One not familiar with the world of sports agency might thing Boras is feared by owners and management of professional teams, but he is also feared by competitors who are trying to take away his prize clients. on January 30, 2018 Casey Close has made a bigger name off the field than he did on it. Howard fired a previous agent, Larry Reynolds, to sign with Close. Gottlieb, a nationally syndicated radio host, says that isn't true, so he must take action. Jones stated the following "I hope for both parties' sake, that both sides negotiated in complete faith with each other and they had Freddie Freeman's interests first and foremost." Following Mariano Rivera's unanimous election into the Baseball Hall of Fame, a look at a prospect class that featured Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada. IMGstoppedrepresenting team sports athletes in on-field contract negotiations in 2006 therefore Close carried Jeter along and moved their practices to Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Carlson was the subject of many headlines in 2016 after coming out to claim she was fired from Fox News after turning down Roger Ailes' sexual advances. Now, his clients include players like Luka Doncic, RJ Barrett, and Deandre Ayton, while he . Baseball Hall of Fame , MLB MVP's , MLB Cy Young Award , MLB Rookie of the Year , Rawlings Gold Gloves , 2022 HOF results , 2023 Hall of Fame ballot , . Constantin Dumitrascu works for Mondial Sports Management and his annual commission take is not far behind Boras at $107 million. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-1-0'); If Caseyhadhung around, said Billy Beane, the Oakland Athletics general manager he would have played in the big leagues or would have been a great player in Japan. Hes a tough negotiator, but he is fair and he is professional. This calculation does not take into account the potentially voidable deferred payments. For now, as you scan the list keep in mind these are a group of people who have very unique negotiating skills and talents. The rest of the UK still has to live with the economic effects of Brexit. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Understanding candidates transferable skills may be the key to keeping businesses alive and workers employed through a pending recession. After five years in professional baseball, Close had become well-acquainted with the business side of the game. As a freshman, he hit a grand slam to help Michigan defeat Stanford and advance to the final four in the College World Series. What is even more amazing is he has done it through the smallest number of contracts on this list 21. Close was well-versed in the business side of baseball after five years in the league and by 1993, he had landed a job as a sports agent with the prestigious IMG (International Management Group) agency. He's kept his body in good shape. In a 2007 interview with BA, Close already was displaying his self-effacing side. Casey Close is a successful sports agent Instagram Before marrying Gretchen Carlson in 1997, Casey Close played for the Michigan Wolverines before moving on to the minor leagues, eventually transitioning from the playing field to management, per PennLive.