Pirates say verbal settlement reached in players’ union lawsuit over team’s use of image. Sheetz
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that a verbal agreement had been reached to settle a lawsuit filed by the Major League Baseball Players Association (MBA) against the team’s parent company and supermarket chain Sheetz Inc. The lawsuit accuses the Pirates of unauthorized use of players’ names and images on social media.
MLB Players Inc., an affiliate of the union, filed suit in U.S. District Court in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, claiming violations of Pennsylvania law regarding unauthorized use of names and likenesses, common law impersonation and unjust enrichment. MLB Players Inc. sought damages and an injunction against the team and Sheetz.
The Pirates announced a jersey patch sponsorship deal with Sheetz on June 21. The lawsuit alleges that posts on Instagram, X and Facebook by the team and Sheetz unlawfully used images of Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutcheon, Nick Gonzales, Carmen Mlodzinski and Connor Joe.
While the union said an agreement was currently being negotiated, the lawsuit was still pending as of Thursday afternoon.
“We were surprised by this complaint as we have been involved in active discussions on this matter,” Brian Warecki, the Pirates’ senior vice president of communications and broadcasting, said in a statement Thursday. “We have since reached a verbal settlement and expect this complaint to be withdrawn.”
Sheetz did not respond to a request for comment sent to his media relations email address.