Jared S. Hopkins of the Chicago Tribune (subscription required) chronicles the travails Jose Abreu underwent in leaving his native Cuba for America. Full details of Abreu’s journey remain a secret (Abreu and his agents have declined to discuss his defection and an interview with Abreu’s mother, to which to she had agreed, was cancelled by one of the slugger’s associates), but Hopkins was able to piece together how Abreu and his brother-in-law took a boat from Cuba to Haiti in August 2013 leaving behind his young son and family, reaching out to the Orioles’ Henry Urrutia for help after leaving Cuba, and living in the Dominican Republic for three months before landing his $68MM contract with the White Sox. The article also delves into the role smugglers and their networks play in ferreting players out of Cuba for promises upward of 30% of the players’ first contract. Abreu is expected to be named the AL Rookie of the Year tomorrow.
In other news about Abreu’s White Sox and the American League:
- Earlier today, we learned the White Sox will meet this week with Pablo Sandoval’s representatives during the GM Meetings in Phoenix. However, if the right third base upgrade cannot be found, the White Sox are comfortable with a platoon of Conor Gillaspie and Marcus Semien, reports CSNChicago.com’s Dan Hayes. The White Sox also have Matt Davidson on their 40-man roster, but Hayes notes the 23-year-old struggled in a homer-friendly park at Triple-A Charlotte (.199/.283/.362 in 539 plate appearances).
- The free agent expenditures by the Red Sox this offseason could be shaped by who will be available in free agency next winter, writes Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal. With a solid free agent class of starting pitchers and a dearth of third baseman next offseason, MacPherson opines the Red Sox may stretch the budget this year for Sandoval, Chase Headley, or Hanley Ramirez.
- Rays players are rallying around Dave Martinez to replace Joe Maddon as manager, per the Tampa Bay Times’ Marc Topkin.
- Within the same article, Topkin speculates the trade of left-hander Cesar Ramos was the first of what could be several moves by the Rays to create roster spots by dealing players who may be too expensive or no longer fit and receive something in return. Sean Rodriguez (projected by MLBTR’s Matt Swartz to earn $2MM through arbitration) could be one of those moves, according to Topkin.
It is a really messed up situation when you realize a lot of money coming from MLB is supporting these smugglers and their illegal practices.
and 30% is pretty steep.
It would be great to see the MLB try to work with the government to lift the embargo to help people (more than just MLB players) be able to get from Cuba to the US without relying on smugglers.
And vice versa. Cuba is a beautiful place and baseball tourism would mean a lot to the economy there.
Although I would like that as well, this is MUCH bigger than an MLB problem.
It’s crazy to me some of these guys leave their kids. I know it’s a completely different life there and I would no doubt be a completely different person if I was born and raised in Cuba. But to better your own life while leaving your child behind…I just can’t fathom it.
Is the idea to bring them along later?
I would have to think so. My worry would be that the smugglers would use the children as collateral if the player ended up not paying them the 30%. Or using them to extort the player for more.
That brings up points regarding human trafficking, drug cartels, etc. that exist in that part of the world that definitely use family not only as collateral but as payment. Probably can’t get too far into that here. But it’s definitely something to discuss. What is worse? Leaving the child in Cuba? Or possibly subjecting them to the politics of illegal activity in Central America?
My concerns aren’t much different than if MLB players were doing business with the mob. At worst there’s a potential dangerous situation going on where a game or games get fixed to serve a debt.
Is that realistic? Wouldn’t the only way be to put your children in the hands of the smugglers? I admittedly don’t know a lot about how it works. But most of these guys have left kids behind.
That part stood out to me more than MLB money going to human trafficking. Not that the latter should be ignored.
Tough situation. As far as MLB… Its not a good idea to have players indebted to cartels.
They are technically sponsoring the whole industry. It is wrong in so many levels when you think about it.
I agree but think about it. You are a cuban baseball player with a chance of leaving the island and signing a multi million dollar contract. It is the only opportunity you will have or you stay in the island making $50 a month the rest of your life if you are lucky. Sure they leave their kids but they plan to get them out as well. And they leave them with family so it’s not like the kids are left homeless. Also, I am sure they find a way to send money back home
Sending money to your kid is not being a Dad. I don’t care how much money he’s sending, that kid would be much better off with his Dad.
Yes I agree. But people in Cuba live in misery. It’s not just about baseball and family, those people get no water or electricity in a regular basis, they struggle to find consumable products. They want to leave the island and pursue other opportunities. I am sure it came down to the wire where a guy like Abreu was planning on bringing his whole family on the boat when the smuggler pulled a gun out on them and told them to stay or he was going to shoot somebody. I don’t think it was a discussion at the dinner table at home.
Looking at it from another point of view, if you’ve had a fairly secure existence and never had to endure frequent food shortages, limited work opportunities, lack of personal freedom and seemingly no way out, it is difficult to understand the lengths to which others can be driven to in order to escape to a new and promising life, and it is tempting to be judgmental about their choices. However, mainstream morality and ideals in cases like these are a luxury that people in such desperate conditions just can’t afford.
As for leaving one’s family…fathers taking off in search of better “opportunities”, while leaving the kids behind – often permanently – is nothing new. One doesn’t have to look to Cuban ballplayers for that, as there is plenty of that to be found anywhere; the U.S.A. included. Yet this phenomenon gets very little notice and generates little public outcry these days.
I work with people that have come from Mexico and left their families behind in order to earn more money so they can send money back to them, but Im not sure that you can do that to Cuba. I mean there must be a way, but I’m not sure what it is. I guess if you are a citizen of a country like Mexico or the DR that doesnt embargo Cuba, then you probably can. Just thinking out loud here.
Just because you are not allowed or there is an embargo it does not mean it can’t be done. Money talks, at a certain price you can do anything you want.
What is even crazier is that people tend to look at the results of a messed up world rather than consider how we got to this point. This is not human trafficking or smuggling like the cases you read or hear about. These are cases where these are phenoms leaving their country illegally and probably more comparable to a North Korean going to South Korea than “human trafficking” and “smuggling” . Wake up peeps the issue is the government in Cuba not the people trying to get the h out.
Isn’t your free agency expenditures shaped by every team by who they have and who will be available in the future?
Can’t read the Abreu article if you don’t have a subscription to the Tribune. Just figured I would let everyone know now. Kinda mad because I am intrigued about the situation.
Yea. That stinks.
Panda’s not worth what he’s asking for. I would check on Headley.
So MLB doesn’t mind paying smugglers 30%? What stood out to me more than anything was the fact that Abreu left his son in Cuba. That’s a tough call considering what might be worse for children. Leaving them in Cuba? Or subjecting them to the politics of illegal activity in Central America?
I am sure you do not understand the situation fully. So I will be as nice as I can. Sometimes people are against all odds and when they triumph they have some people there still trying to keep them down. I feel like maybe you can be one of those people.
I’ll try to be nice as well. Making your own life better by making your child’s worse, is not something that should be celebrated.
Ok so we know for sure he made his childs life is worse? Are we assuming anything here? My dad left me and went to work in the middle east to help a communications company for two years off and on. He was supporting his family. Sorry guys but you are gonna have to sell me on this one. You will probably have to know a bit more facts then just assumptions.
Yankees fans, would losing Headley to the Red Sox be a big blow for 2015 if you also missed on Sandoval?
not really. Headley is certainly a useful player, but I’m leery of big contracts right now. take out headley’s big 2012, and then look at the balance of his work. solid, not off the charts. both he and panda are going to be overpaid. just because he’s cheaper than panda does not make a deal of the magnitude some are predicting for him a good value.
This Jose Abreu situation, as well as Puig, would make an interesting movie. Not just from the perspective of seeking a better life, but exploring the politics of smuggling in Central America and the difficult choices these people make.
Davidson hit 20 homers in a homer friendly park. The problem is he hit poorly in a hits-unfriendly park against advanced pitching. Let’s hope that’s just a reboot from switching organizations and he does better this year.
This is what worries me about Hahn. This fetish he has for FA third basemen and other teams prospects instead of I dunno, DRAFTING one and developing a guy. Gillaspie improved over last year, with bat and glove (though not be much) so keep overpaying for guys and trading closers for a 3rd prospect, but at the end of the day I see Gillaspie still at third (which is not a terrible thing either).
I get Sandoval is a good player, but it sounds like whoever gets this guy is going to overpay for a guy that may not have a lot left in his current shape, and if he gets healthy will he hit the same or better? A lot of ‘ifs’ for a guy that wants a 6 year deal and what will likely be an insane price.
Couldn’t agree more NRD1138, White Sox need a hitter in Left, a catcher, a DH, a 2nd baseman, relievers, and a couple decent starters. If I was Hahn I’d be trying to steal young studs from lower budget organizations i.e. Tampa Bay, Marlins, Royals, Twins, Padres, etc.. Jose Fernandez, Dallas Keuchel, Colin McHugh, Jacob deGrom, Matt Shoemaker any of these pitchers would be great 2nd or 3rd starters. Get me a Jose Altuve at 2nd. J.D. Martinez in Left. Nelson Cruz DH nice.
Is there anybody White Sox can trade to get Tony Watson & either N. Walker or Josh Harrison? I would be happy with Scooter Gennett at 2nd. Rockies GM says he’s having trouble bringing himself to shop Tulo & Cargo, says their the best in game at their respective positions. Good don’t trade them, trade C. Dickerson or C. Blackmon to da Sox. Johnny Danks + Jordan Danks to Yanks for McCann lol. We have no trade bait. Hopefully Hahn gets us 1 serious bat & 1 solid bat for Left Field & DH