What Players REALLY Keep: The Shocking Truth About MLB Taxes & NIL Money

Most baseball parents think only about signing bonuses, NIL money, and the path to the pros — but this episode of The Most Valuable Agent with Matt Hannaford pulls you inside the real tax strategy, financial planning, and hidden money traps that shape a player's baseball career long before the big leagues. Former pro player and CPA Steven CASERES breaks down the real financial side of baseball development — from how players are actually paid in the minor leagues, to why state taxes can quietly take six figures out of a signing bonus, to the truth about NIL money and whether young athletes should really form an LLC. You'll learn why two players with the same signing bonus can take home dramatically different amounts depending on residency, what families must know before draft day, how MLB teams decide where to "source" payments, and why Shohei Ohtani's contract changed the landscape forever. If you've ever wondered how money really works in baseball — behind the contracts, behind the taxes, behind the scenes — this conversation gives you the complete playbook parents never get. Subscribe for weekly MLB draft strategy and baseball development insights. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN • How MLB teams actually tax and split signing bonuses • Why residency and domicile can change a player's take-home by six figures • How to protect your signing bonus from high-tax states • What NIL players must know before forming an LLC • Why Ohtani's contract was a tax masterpiece — and the loophole it used • How minor league salary, duty days, and jock taxes really work • The biggest tax mistakes families make during the draft • What documents parents must keep to stay financially organized ABOUT STEVEN CASERES Steven Caseres is a former professional baseball player turned CPA for elite athletes. He specializes in MLB tax strategy, residency planning, NIL structuring, and long-term financial efficiency for players navigating the draft, minor leagues, and major league compensation systems. ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD Matt Hannaford is a 25-year veteran MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has represented Hall of Famers, negotiated blockbuster contracts, and now delivers weekly insights on the mindset, development pathway, and business of elite baseball. CONNECT WITH MATT HANNAFORD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfhannaford/ Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/ YouTube (subscribe for weekly coaching): https://www.youtube.com/@mostvaluableagent CONNECT WITH STEVEN CASERES Contact: steven@gpccpas.com #MLBDraft #BaseballTaxes #NILMoney #SigningBonus #BaseballParents #CPAForAthletes #MostValuableAgent #PlayerDevelopment #BaseballBusiness