Rowdy Tellez, coach refuse to pay rent for Toronto condos blaming COVID-19

polo007 · Post #1 » by **polo007** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 2:56 pm

Toronto Blue Jays slugger Ryan "Rowdy" Tellez and first base coach Mark Budzinski are accused of leaving a pair of Toronto landlords on the hook for thousands of dollars in unpaid rents after signing leases for downtown Toronto condos.

Both men say since the COVID-19 pandemic has suspended the Major League Baseball season and because they're currently living in the U.S., they shouldn't have to pay their rent in Toronto.

Tellez, who was paid an $850,000 US signing bonus when he was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2013, and has made hundreds of thousands more playing pro baseball, hasn't paid his $4,100 monthly rent payment since March, said his landlord Linda Pinizzotto.

"I feel I'm being disrespected. I rented out my place to him in good faith," she said.

Pinizzotto showed CBC News the lease which indicates Tellez in January signed the contract for the furnished two bedroom condo in a building on Blue Jays Way — steps from the Rogers Centre where the team normally plays.

The lease kicked in on March 24, 2020. But Pinizzotto said after paying first and last month's rent, Tellez hasn't made any other payments.

"I could easily have put it on the long-term rental market. I didn't do that. I gave it to him for six months in good faith because he's with the Jays and the trust level that goes with that."

Ong_dynasty · Post #2 » by **Ong_dynasty** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 4:32 pm

I’m on the landlords side. I find it abit cheap for people with their financial income to not pay tbh.
Tbh, same thing happened to me.

metafisical · Post #3 » by **metafisical** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 6:38 pm

A lease a contract. COVID-19, or any pandemic, was not a foreseeable condition to put into a contract previously; but unless the landlord provides some kind of mutually agreed on exemption, Tellez and the coach have to pay up.

This goes for anyone who signs a lease (professional baseball player or not).

rarefind · Post #4 » by **rarefind** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 8:42 pm

Garbage people exist everywhere, including on our beloved Blue Jays.

Post #5 » by **Schad** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 9:53 pm

The right thing to do would be to pay, obviously. At the same time, this is probably more "my lawyer says I have cause to be ****" rather than "I intend to be ****".

Tellez also isn't enormously wealthy. He got an $850k signing bonus seven years ago, and he has made about $400-450k USD pre-tax in his time in the majors*. $24k CAD is a not-insubstantial sum for him. He should still pay for the condo, IMO, but I can see why he'd have sought the advice of a lawyer, and if the lawyer advised that they believed the contract was not enforceable, I can see why he'd go with that.

*And pretty well sweet **** all in his six years in the minors.

SharoneWright · Post #6 » by **SharoneWright** » Wed Jun 17, 2020 10:20 pm

I can't decide whose more privileged, the rich landlord or the rich pro ballplayer.

Fairview4Life · Post #7 » by **Fairview4Life** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 12:59 am

Isn't there a tenancies board? I assume there is a tenancies act that mandates like a 1-3 month "I can kick you out for whatever reason" clause? And then go to small claims court for the unpaid months?

dagger · Post #8 » by **dagger** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 12:39 pm

SharoneWright wrote:I can't decide whose more privileged, the rich landlord or the rich pro ballplayer.

I presume his landlord could swallow this - unlikely the building is a hovel. But just a note - many landlords in the city aren't wealthy, they might own a building or two, with a mortgage on them. Some people I know live off the revenue. Not shedding tears for anyone, just that not all landlords are large corporations or trusts

SharoneWright · Post #9 » by **SharoneWright** » Thu Jun 18, 2020 9:30 pm

^
I was mostly poking at the idea of today's society tending to measure who is aggrieved based on rankings of privilege, as opposed to simply what is right. But of course you are correct, many landlords are not rich and have mortgages and budgets...

Really, what should happen is for Rowdy to reach out to the landlord a figure out a way to cooperate. Working out a sublease seems like a very reasonable solution/concession based on circumstances.

Yeezus_ · Post #10 » by **Yeezus_** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 3:12 pm

$4100 monthly rent for a player that has uncertainty involving his future earning potential. Isn't that a little too much considering he wouldn't even be there for a large chunk of the 6 month term?

Post #11 » by **Schad** » Mon Jun 22, 2020 11:48 pm

Yeezus_ wrote:$4100 monthly rent for a player that has uncertainty involving his future earning potential. Isn't that a little too much considering he wouldn't even be there for a large chunk of the 6 month term?

Most baseball players live in close proximity to the Dome, because it's pretty much a necessity; they're shuttling to and from the stadium so frequently that a commuter lifestyle doesn't work well. And there isn't much cheap property in that vicinity; some players do rent condos together, but I'd imagine that a $4100 one-bedroom condo isn't exactly top-of-the-line when you're close enough to throw a pie at the CN Tower.

Post #12 » by **The Duke** » Tue Jun 23, 2020 11:24 am

Schad wrote:
Yeezus_ wrote:$4100 monthly rent for a player that has uncertainty involving his future earning potential. Isn't that a little too much considering he wouldn't even be there for a large chunk of the 6 month term?

Most baseball players live in close proximity to the Dome, because it's pretty much a necessity; they're shuttling to and from the stadium so frequently that a commuter lifestyle doesn't work well. And there isn't much cheap property in that vicinity; some players do rent condos together, but I'd imagine that a $4100 one-bedroom condo isn't exactly top-of-the-line when you're close enough to throw a pie at the CN Tower.

Two bedroom condo *
Certaintly does not seem top of the line.