MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is "confident a new system to govern the transfer of Cuban players can be in place by the end of the year," according to Jorge Ortiz of USA TODAY. Paving the way for a new system that "would allow Cuban players to offer their services to U.S. teams without abandoning their country is one of MLB’s goals" during its current trip to Cuba, which is highlighted by today's exhibition featuring the Rays and the Cuban national team. While MLB has "benefited from a substantial influx of Cuban talent in recent years, those players have typically reached the U.S. after risking their lives by escaping on boats, often with the intervention of human traffickers." Both parties "would like to put an end to that practice, but they don’t necessarily agree on how." Manfred said that a new system "figures to come within the context of the new collective bargaining agreement, expected to be in place sometime in the fall." He said, "We do feel pressure to make a change as a result of some of the abuses of which we’ve become painfully aware the last few years." Ortiz reports the process of reforming the system is "complicated by the participation of four different entities -- MLB, the players association and the U.S. and Cuban governments -- each with their own interests, and an embargo the Republican-led Congress has shown no intention of lifting." Manfred "believes major reforms can be made even with the embargo in place" (USA TODAY, 3/22).
COMPLICATIONS EXIST: In N.Y., Ben Strauss reports even as the Obama administration has "paved the way for a new relationship between MLB and the Cuban baseball federation, it remains unclear how the Cubans would structure an agreement to send their players to the major leagues" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/22). Baseball Federation of Cuba President Higinio Velez said that Cuba is "willing to let its players pursue their dreams" in MLB -- as long as they are "treated the same as any other international players." He said, "We haven’t placed the limitations on this; the limitations are imposed by the embargo." Velez said that Cuban players "shouldn’t have to lose their citizenship to play ball" in the U.S. (MIAMI HERALD, 3/22). Manfred: "If we could make a deal to resolve this problem, it would attract a lot of attention. I can't say we are close. It's a very uncomfortable position for us to be in. I am comfortable in saying that we, the clubs and Major League Baseball, are at the end of this pipeline. The economics are what they are and we are at the end of this. However, we are not controlling what is happening" (ESPN.com, 3/21).
PLANTING THE SEEDS: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Brian Costa notes MLB's "immediate endgame is a new system of player movement that would create a more direct pipeline of talent from Cuba." In that respect, the ultimate value of the trip for MLB "may be as an exercise in relationship-building." MLB Chief Legal Officer Dan Halem said, "Just by the mere process of negotiating over the game, and actually going and playing it, hopefully it will sort of pave the way to make the more difficult round of negotiations go a little easier." MLB has "floated the idea of creating an entity similar to a nonprofit that would reinvest a share of player salaries into youth baseball in Cuba without going through government coffers." But any such plan "would need the approval of the U.S. and Cuban governments and the MLB players’ union" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 3/22). Red Sox RF Rusney Castillo, who was born in Cuba and defected in '13, said, "Right now, players who are able to come over here, we have to take a lot of risks. Hopefully the next generation of Cuban players can come over here without that risk" (ESPNBOSTON.com, 3/22).
BASEBALL'S AMBASSADORS: In N.Y., Joel Sherman reports in an effort to "emphasize how important" relations with Cuba are to him, Manfred ordered nearly every "important official under his command to join him in Cuba." MLB CFO Bob Starkey was "left to run" MLB's N.Y. office. Manfred "sees the economic benefits should this market open fully, not just for more players coming to the majors, but to deepen the fan base, potentially have more exhibition or regular-season games in Cuba and -- the commissioner said -- 'a team (based in Cuba) in the long haul'" (N.Y. POST, 3/22). MLB Network's Sam Ryan said MLB officials are "really hoping that this will open the door for future international games, not just here in Cuba but elsewhere." Ryan: "Perhaps not only exhibition, but a regular-season game” ("MLB Tonight," MLB Network, 3/21).
CAPTAIN AMERICA: Former MLBer Derek Jeter, who traveled to Cuba as part of MLB's party, said he was there because MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre "contacted me and invited me to come along." The N.Y. POST's Sherman notes the trip to Cuba is the "strongest tie Jeter has had to the game since his retirement" after the '14 season. Jeter has appeared "at retirement ceremonies" for Yankees teammates, but "this is a multi-day commitment and outside his area of familiarity." Jeter: "I wanted to come and see firsthand the country of Cuba and see how passionate they are about baseball" (N.Y. POST, 3/22).
