MLB is considering about 10 teams "to play spring training games in Cuba before next season if the final hurdles can be cleared for such games," according to Sherman & Davidoff of the N.Y. POST. The league has been "working for months to finalize such games" in the aftermath of the U.S. and Cuba renewing diplomatic ties earlier this year. Among other things, MLB will "need the final blessing of the U.S. government to have games played in the island country." It is "expected some kind of lottery system would be used to pick the two teams that go" (N.Y. POST, 11/11). Manfred, at the league GM meetings in Boca Raton, Fla., said, "There are a variety of issues involved there, not all of which are wholly within baseball’s control. Obviously, the federal government has some significant influence on whether that’s going to take place, and there are issues that need to be solved before that can happen.” He added, “We got a little time still, there isn’t really a firm cutoff. We’re going to proceed internally and get to the point where we’ve sort of identified who would go, meaning which club would go if we can get it done. And one club maintaining flexibility with respect to a spring training date is a lot easier than 25 clubs maintaining that flexibility" (AP, 11/10). In N.Y., Billy Witz notes several MLB officials last month "traveled to Cuba to examine baseball fields and other facilities to determine whether teams could play there in the spring." Team officials said that the Yankees and the Mets were "among those that said they would like to be considered." The Red Sox and Orioles also are "considered strong possibilities" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/11). Rays President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman said that the team "definitely would be interested in playing in Cuba in March" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/11).
SAFETY FIRST: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan notes the issue of protective netting at ballparks "will be discussed at next week’s owners meeting in Dallas." Many players would "like to see more netting added to protect fans from foul balls and flying bats, after several incidents over the last few years." Manfred: “If you go out and look at the ballparks, a simple uniform (rule like) you’re going to (add netting) to the end of the dugout, it’s not workable, given the variation in designs of the stadiums. It’s going to have to be a little more complicated than that if, in fact, we move ahead. We’re going to have a full conversation about this at the owners meeting" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/11). In Boston, Peter Abraham notes Fenway Park "has been at the center of this discussion" after two incidents where fans were seriously injured by items flying into the stands. Manfred said, "We’re going to have a full debate -- maybe debate’s the wrong word; how about conversation? -- about this, and I don’t want to prejudge the outcome beyond that" (BOSTON GLOBE, 11/11).
STEALING SIGNS: In St. Louis, Derrick Goold notes Manfred spoke to GMs about "modernizing employee contracts to protect themselves against analytic theft," and the commissioner "intends to do the same thing next week with the owners." Manfred: “I’ve already had some conversations with owners about the need for individual clubs to protect their intellectual property in individual employee contracts. ... It's an issue that we’ll give advice to the individual clubs to make sure they negotiate individual contracts provisions that are protective of what they feel they need to protect.” Goold notes the Cardinals are "currently being investigated by the U.S. Attorney and the FBI for an alleged breach" of the Astros’ internal database (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/11).
ROSE RULING COMING: ESPN.com noted Manfred "remains on track to decide Pete Rose's application for reinstatement by the end of next month." Manfred, who met with Rose in September, said, "The end of the year is my deadline. I'm not telling you that this is coming Dec. 30 or whatever. It will be done before the end of the year, let me be clear about that" (ESPN.com, 11/10).
