Some good news for Sports fans and baseball ones in particular. The MLB (Americas Major League Baseball association) and Cuba’s Baseball Federation have reached a deal to allow Cuban players to join US teams without the previous rigmarole.
Previously players wanting to sign with MLB teams had to defect – effectively claiming asylum in the US. This had ramifications for their families back at home and of course, left them at the mercy of people smugglers. Cuba has a long tradition of producing top Baseball players – the most famous of whom can be seen here
Now Eligible Cuban players – those over 25, and who have been playing in Cuban league for at least six years, are free to leave and sign with any MLB team.
A similar arrangement exists for players in Asian leagues.
Cuban Born Yasiel Puig Now a top MLB Player with the Dodgers
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Cuba’s Baseball Federation will receive a percentage of any signing bonuses as part of the deal and hopefully, this will be a stepping stone towards the ending of US Embargo on Cuba which dates back to 1958. This embargo continues despite continued condemnation by the UN General Assembly.
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