Headlines

  • Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila
  • Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture
  • Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates
  • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition
  • Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand
  • Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Cuba Could Consider Adding Defectors To National Team

By charliewilmoth | March 26, 2016 at 9:15am CDT

Cuba could at some point consider adding famous defectors to its national team to play in the World Baseball Classic, FOX Sports’ Jon Morosi writes. “Everything is on the table,” says Cuban baseball commissioner Heriberto Suarez, in Spanish.

“There’s a set of rules as to who can play for whom. Federations ought to put the best teams out there . . . That serves to make the event the best it can possibly be,” says MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. “That’s a decision they have to make. We certainly would be open to it.”

The potential inclusion of Jose Fernandez, Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu, Aroldis Chapman, Yasiel Puig and other high-profile players — many of whom left Cuba under incredibly dangerous conditions — to Cuba’s national team would be hugely important for the WBC and for baseball, and would also be important symbolically for US-Cuba relations. Morosi points out, however, that there would be significant obstacles to those players’ participation. There would need to be a working agreement between MLB, the players association, and the Cuban and American governments, with Cuba receiving some sort of posting free allowing Cuban players to sign MLB contracts while remaining Cuban citizens.

Manfred has said that it’s likely some sort of agreement on Cuban players would be reached in talks for the next Collective Bargaining Agreement. But the current CBA expires in December, when the US embargo against Cuba (which would prohibit posting fees) will likely still be in place. MLB is reportedly working with the White House to find a solution that allows the movement of players from Cuba to MLB.

Share 17 Retweet 11 Send via email0

Newsstand

Week In Review: 3/19/16 – 3/25/16
Main
Astros Likely To Acquire Backup Catcher From Outside
View Comments (12)

Comments

  1. Out of place Met fan

    6 years ago

    Having players play for their country is good for baseball, and would be good for future relations. I have wondered why some Cubans haven’t played for the countries that they have established residency.

    As for some type of visa that cut through the red tape and bypass as the embargo, that sounds a lot easier said than done.

    Reply
  2. therealryan

    6 years ago

    I wonder if the next CBA could have some sort of provisional agreement in place that could address Cuban players today, but also include them playing for the Cuban national team or a posting fee system if America lifts or modifies the current embargo.

    Reply
    • Red_Line_9

      6 years ago

      Cuba is funny. They plot the assassination of at least one of our presidents, construct an offensive nuclear weapons system 90 miles from us, and now ask for the land of Guantanamo back that was signed over in treaty in the Spanish-American War.

      Perhaps the USSR will send their posting fees.

      Reply
      • jaysfan1994

        6 years ago

        A reminder that Cuba rebelled as a satellite state of the U.S in the 1950’s because American business men were using Cuba as a place to conduct immoral business practices.

        Let’s also not forget that China despite being a authoritarian communist government is okay in America’s books because they allow our business men to conduct slave labor in their country.

        Reply
        • Cam

          6 years ago

          You nailed it, jaysfan1994.

          No need to remind anyone how Michael Jordan – the great sporting icon – made and sustains his significant wealth. Barely anyone bats an eyelid.

        • Red_Line_9

          6 years ago

          And you’re a Canadian…so your opinion means as much as mine toward Queen Elizabeth. I didn’t add the 1980 boat lift when he flushed his toilets on Miami. Go talk to the Cubans in Florida about it.

          You want to get caught in extraneous stuff..wow…America isn’t perfect. That’s an original concept. Go check Che Guevaras record on human rights.

      • Cam

        6 years ago

        I don’t really want to turn this conversation too political, but..

        When comparing apples with apples – the USA ain’t exactly Mother Teresa when put up against Cuba.

        As an outsider looking in, I can assure you, it would be hypocritical to pretend Cuba is any less of a corrupt, unethical, nuclear driven mess than the US.

        Better build another nuke to make sure people don’t build nukes. Or something.

        Reply
        • johnny099

          6 years ago

          Great job on not turning the conversation “too political”.

          Let’s ask the people who’ve died fleeing the Cuban police state, bullets in their back, starving in prison, or drowning in shark-infested waters, whether the US it’s a “hypocrisy” to consider the US superior.

        • Cam

          6 years ago

          Are the middle eastern civilians killed by US air-raids worth any less than those poor Cubans? Because that talk of being “superior” seems to imply the horrible,terrible crimes being committed elsewhere, aren’t as bad.

          What about your own kind being led to the grave by tax evading, government endorsed corporates who would trade your child’s health for a buck?

          I implore you, if nothing else, to look at your own backyard through anything other than rose-tinted glasses.

        • Red_Line_9

          6 years ago

          I’m for one not saying we should overlook our own mess..I have my own issue with it…but that doesn’t not wash away the very real past history in and with Cuba.

          I’m not sure why stating a case in defense of America makes me a right wing nut. Castro and Guevara brutalized their own people.

  3. BlueSkyLA

    6 years ago

    The Cuban government needs hard currency and MLB wants access to these players. The politics aside, it’s all going to come down to money.

    BTW, typo in third paragraph, last sentence.

    Reply
  4. jeffversion1

    6 years ago

    Considering the risks many of these guys were willing to take to get out, would they really be so hot to play for the glory of Cuba?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Tigers Fire General Manager Al Avila

    Matt Carpenter Expected To Miss 6-8 Weeks With Foot Fracture

    Braves Select Top Prospect Vaughn Grissom, Activate Kirby Yates

    2022-23 MLB Free Agent Power Rankings: August Edition

    Tim Anderson Out 4-6 Weeks Due To Torn Ligament In Hand

    Blue Jays Sign Jackie Bradley Jr., Designate Matt Peacock

    Chris Sale Fractures Wrist, Will Miss Remainder Of Season

    Cubs To Release Jason Heyward At End Of Season

    Cubs Claim Franmil Reyes From Guardians

    Fernando Tatis Jr. To Begin Rehab Assignment

    Rockies Claim Dinelson Lamet, Designate Ashton Goudeau

    Cubs Release Andrelton Simmons

    Alex Kirilloff To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

    Guardians Designate Franmil Reyes For Assignment

    Justin Verlander Reaches 130 Innings Pitched, Vests 2023 Player Option

    Red Sox Release Jackie Bradley Jr.

    Phillies Release Didi Gregorius

    Vin Scully Passes Away

    Padres Acquire Juan Soto, Josh Bell; C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, Luke Voit Among Six Players Back To Nationals

    Braves To Acquire Raisel Iglesias

    Recent

    Braves Place Max Fried On Concussion-Related Injured List

    Minor MLB Transactions: Jackson, Sharp

    Nationals Outright Donovan Casey

    Mariners Reinstate Julio Rodriguez, Designate Luis Torrens

    Rockies To Select Wynton Bernard

    Previewing Upcoming Club Option Decisions: National League

    Injury Notes: Harper, Schwarber, Daza, Harris, Canterino

    Mets Reinstate Dominic Smith From 10-Day IL, Option Him To Triple-A

    Active MLB Players Who Have Received A Qualifying Offer

    A’s Release Jed Lowrie

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Cubs Decline To Trade Contreras, Happ
    • Giants Keep Rodon, Pederson
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • MLB Player Chats
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent Tracker
    • 2021-22 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2022
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version