The subject of playing spring training games in Cuba was broached once President Obama announced the United States would restore diplomatic relations with the neighboring nation. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the possibility on Monday at Busch Stadium.
Major League Baseball has seen a greater influx of Cuban players in recent seasons as many have defected from their home country to seek an MLB contract in hopes of making big money and living the dream of playing in the world's best professional league. The market for baseball in Cuba is a largely unchartered one and Manfred is looking to take advantage of that during spring training in 2016.
"Manfred said he envisions major-league players performing in Cuba during spring training next year, now that diplomatic relations have been restored between the U.S. and Cuba," writes Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
"That would be my best guess, based on the state of the conversations with the government," Manfred said on Monday.
"But this one is going to be difficult because there's a lot of interest,'' he added, referring to what teams would have the opportunity to do so. "Fortunately, it's not a finite opportunity. I'm hoping over a period of years we'll go more frequently (to Cuba) and a lot of teams will have a chance to play down there."
Manfred spoke publicly about the scenario in late April as well during a meeting of the Associated Press Sports Editors.
"I can envision us playing games in Cuba," he said, via TSN.ca. "I'm hopeful that the situation in terms of actual changes in federal policy clarifies in time to put us in a position to play some exhibition games in Cuba next spring.
"I think that's the most likely starting place for us. We've made clear to the U.S. government that we are more than willing to play a role at a time that in their view is appropriate, and we think Cuba presents some really interesting possibilities for us going forward over the longer term."
He also mentioned in March that the MLB will "likely play an exhibition game in Cuba in 2016."
The complicated relationship between the MLB and Cubans is about to change. In previous years, players were forced to defect from the country, establish residency elsewhere and obtain a license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to be "unblocked" by the government. Once that happened, the MLB would have to declare that player a free agent before any team signed him.
Other players such as Yasiel Puig, Leonys Martin and Aldemys Diaz bypassed that process and were smuggled into the U.S. illegally and provided their smugglers with a percentage of their earnings once they signed a contract.
That's all about to change. The United States' improved relationship with Cuba will do the same for the MLB and this niche of foreign players. It also creates a new market for the MLB, which Manfred is undoubtedly looking forward to.
