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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?