The Orioles are "interested in playing an exhibition game in Cuba during spring training" but "nothing is imminent," according to a source cited by Eduardo Encina of the Baltimore SUN. The team is discussing a game in Cuba "in the near future," but this spring would "seem unlikely because MLB is still working to get an understanding of what the laws will be regarding Cuba." Planning a game for '16 "would seem to be more feasible." Orioles Exec VP/Baseball Operations Dan Duquette said, "There’s interest from the team. I don’t know about the logistics yet." Encina noted the Orioles played an exhibition game in Havana in '99 as "part of a home-and-home series against the Cuban All-Star team." A return trip would "seem to be much easier now." President Obama last month "relaxed travel restrictions to Cuba." MLB has "adopted a wait-and-see approach" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 2/9). Meanwhile, ESPN.com's Buster Olney cited a source as saying that the Red Sox "explored the possibility of playing an exhibition game in Cuba this spring." But at this time, there are "no plans for a game, nor is there is expected to be." It is "believed that a Red Sox fan of some note, Secretary of State John Kerry, has had a voice in the conversations." The source said that this spring "would be too soon for the Red Sox to make a game work" (ESPN.com, 2/9).
