Sugar KingsUnless you’ve been living under a rock, you are aware that recently President Obama announced the restoration of full diplomatic relations with Cuba. To be sure, there’s a gigantic divide between this and actual “normal” relations that we have with a country such as Canada. But it’s a start and the biggest journeys all begin with a single step.

We’ve already heard all of the reasons, real and imagined, why it’s a bad idea to do this. My fear about discussing these in any detail is that this turns into a discussion about politics. And the bottom line is that my preference is not to talk politics but rather to talk baseball.

Some people dream about unfiltered access to Cuban cigars. Others envision witnessing a place filled with 1950s technology and classic Chevys. My dream is about the ability to see more Jose Abreus and Yasiel Puigs perform here in the U.S. without them having to risk life and limb in order to do so.

The way we feel now about the Dominicans is the way baseball fans once thought of Cubans. In an era where it was difficult for non-U.S. born players to make it to the majors, rosters were filled with Cubans. The greybeards among us can rattle off names like Tony Perez, Tony Oliva, Luis Tiant, Mike Cuellar and dozens more.

We’ve seen the level of play of some of the Cubans who’ve been able to escape recently and it leaves us yearning for more. Of course not everyone is going to be as good as the aforementioned Abreu and Puig but that’s hardly the bar that needs to be cleared to be useful MLB players. We should be overjoyed with the ability to add more stars, more average ballplayers and better bench guys to the majors.

According to Baseball-Reference, there were 143 active players in 2014 who were born in the Dominican Republic and 25 from Cuba. Imagine 100 or more new MLB quality players available. The talent level would go through the roof and make expansion even more of a sure thing.

The dreamers among us might even envision Havana as an MLB expansion city. That would be wonderful to see but my resigned outlook is that it won’t happen in my lifetime. But that’s okay. A week ago it was difficult to imagine a pathway for more Cubans to make it to the majors, let alone having an MLB franchise located on the island.

Perhaps a minor league team is a more realistic goal, anyway. A few of you might even recall that the Havana Sugar Kings played in the International League from 1954 to 1960 and won the league title in 1959. However, during the 1960 season, the franchise was forced to move to New Jersey before ultimately becoming the Jacksonville Suns.

If that name sounds familiar to you, it’s because Jacksonville became the Mets’ Triple-A franchise in 1966. Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver and many of the 1969 Miracle Mets played for the Suns before the club relocated its top affiliate to Virginia and became the Tidewater Tides in 1969.

However, instead of wishing for professional franchises in Cuba, right now the focus should be on getting Cuban ballplayers access to play in the majors.

It’s still far from easy to imagine how – or even if – this will work out. The U.S. would love it if the same system that operated in the Dominican Republic would carry over to Cuba. Yet it’s impossible to imagine that the Cuban government would allow an asset like this to leave the country without being handsomely compensated for the privilege.

But it’s a lot easier to argue about how to divide the money than it is to argue about government policy. The recent change in the latter makes the former a possibility down the road. Just don’t expect this to happen overnight.

Peter Baker of The New York Times reported that Cuban President Raul Castro addressed his nation on television to announce the news to his people and praised President Obama while still acknowledging that there were significant hurdles still to overcome. But he also gave a message of hope:

“The progress made in our exchanges proves that it is possible to find solutions to many problems.”

12 comments on “Dreaming about an influx of Cuban players into MLB

  • JC

    Frankly this is the most responsible reporting I’ve seen visa vee Cuban ballplayers in light of the recent developments so thanks for that. I’d be remiss if i did not point out that for players to have free and unfettered access to MLB the actual Embargo would have to be lifted, requiring a literal act of congress or through a complicated set of regulatory choices that are not entirely clear to me baseball would have to be one of those industries granted an exemption so they could do business in/with Cuba.

    Assuming some such thing would happen to open that door I believe you would see some kind of posting system emerge. Probably similar to Japan before the recent renegotiation. The deal would be after x years in the cuban league a player would/could be posted by his team. You do the hole blind biding then if you win you get to pay the player. The Castro Government will take a portion of the posting fee and in exchange the player could freely leave the Island. Out of season the Player would be allowed to play for the national team internationally or the WBC.

    I don’t think cuba will ever be a major league city, and I doubt their validity as a minor league city in the short term. Cuba was vegas in the 50’s they are no where as viable after 50 + years of neglect and poverty. What I see there is a winter league perhaps even the prefered one given the Cuban Leagues established venues and Cubas location. I could be wrong about this but thats what I see happening.

    But again this is all a long way off. The President has only just authorized secretary Kerry to begin negotiations for normalisation and the establishment of an embassy in Cuba. The Cuban’s could not even open a full embassy here (they have a mission in NY at the UN) without meeting a list of conditions laid out in the embargo act. I don’t even know them all and to be sure I’m no expert but I know the conditions exist.

    Just one man’s understanding of the hole thing but it is fun to dream and speculate.

    • Brian Joura

      Thanks for the kind words!

      The possibility of Cuba being opened up for MLB purposes is going to put a giant monkey wrench into plans for an international draft.

      • JC

        Frankly I’ve always been a little skeptical about an international draft. I know the league wants to try for it in the next CBA (2016 I think) I can’t imagine the union going for it. The international free agents do fare to much for salary inflation and I can’t see them surrendering that. Further in certain countries one team or another enjoy advantages due to the academy system I don’t think those owners want to surrender that. Further still MLB has agreements with the Mexican, Korean, Japanese pro leagues they would all be damaged by an international draft. You are of course right Cuba adds another complicating factor if it is ever opened but i think this dream Bud had of an international draft may be out of bounds as it were. These issues are exacerbated by another Bud innovation, the international bonus pool. If you have a world wide draft do players signed through it affect that or if they go over slot signing a guy who is internation dose that impact the rest of the draft pool or the international pool or both. When is a player eligible can the enter earlier than US kids they can sign early now, or do they wait. If they are drafted do the same roster eligibility rules apply or must they go to the international eligibility rules. I just don’t see this working out

  • Pete

    Putting politics aside. Before you can envision a MLB team in Cuba you would have to justify your reasons for over looking Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, I don’t think it’s practical or realistic. Cuba does not have the financial resources to build a MLB ballpark and supporting facilities to go along with it. I would think that the same issues apply to P.R. and D.R. I say this because i have been to facilities in both of these countries. At best San Juan in Puerto Rico has a low AAA sport pavilion. I believed the Mets played 2 games there several years ago. Another thought is how will the average Cuban be able to afford tickets when their cost of living is subsidized by the government and there is very little free enterprise in Cuba.

    • JC

      I agree Cuba lacks the financial resources, the fan base with a necessary disposable income and a number of other issues exist. Which is why I targeted them for a winter league. Similarly I think the D.R. is out as a major league city but Puerto Rico is a different kettle of fish.

      When owned by MLB The Expos played several home games at Hiram Bithorn stadium the mets played there several times. This stadium located in San Juan has hosted several WBC games. Though several improvements would be needed it is not out of the realm of possibility plus as a US Territory several of the international headaches would be avoided. In fact if when baseball expands by 2 teams Puerto Rico is the 4th most likely city on my list.

      in case you’re wondering
      1) Portland OR
      2) Montreal
      3) Las Vegas
      4) as stated Puerto Rico

  • Pete

    Puerto Rico is a country. San Juan is the capitol. I think they would out draw the Marlins especially if the embargo gets lifted. I almost feel sorry for Loria! He would not be able to sign any Cuban players! Can you imagine all the boycotts and protests from the expatriated Cuban community that has relocated in Miami?

    • JC

      Puerto Rico is a commonwealth that has been a US colony since seeded to the US in the treaty of Paris ending the Spanish American War. They have a Governor but are a US territory they even have a non voting Delegate known as a resident commissioner in Congress his name is Pedro Pierluisi he has been serving since 2009. THey are aloud some autonomy but they are most definitely a US possession and not an independent country but yes San Juan is its territorial capitol. Not unlike states have capitals. Puerto Ricans travel on US pass ports and Vote for President.

  • Patrick Albanesius

    I hope we don’t get any more Puigs. MLBNetwork wouldn’t have enough time in the day to devote to all those idiotic antics.

  • Pete

    I never said that P.R. is an independent country, It is not a colony. It is as you say a territory of the United States with the same privileges as Americans born in the United States. Only difference is no state taxes. Yes it is a commonwealth that has their own form of government with representatives and they have a governor just like the 50 states have. And they have their own autonomy and have continued to vote to remain as part of the United States rather than obtain independence. When it comes to athletic events, Puerto Rico sends their own athletes representing Puerto Rico to competitions such as the Olympics

    • JC

      yes but you said puerto rico is a country it is not. which was my point infact under international law it is a “semi autonomous colony” it is not in any way a country. As for olympics citizens of Puerto rico may either qualify for the US or P.R. team most athletes from P.R. chose to qualify for P.R. because their are fewer eligible competitors, Puerto Rico has twice that I’m aware of rejected independence or at the very least failed to ratify it. There “Government” is akin to State government not a “country” as you originally called it. I highlight all this to say my original point that P.R. states as a US Territory if you like removes several financial and organizational hurdles to expansion present in any international city outside of Canada or mexico.

  • Pete

    You’re right JC. It is a helluva lot easier to put a team in P.R. than in any other “international” location. I can see the local sponsors like Bacardi lining up with Promotional Giveaways. If there is ever an influx of 50-100 players from Cuba it would make sense that both MLB and the Players Union look to expand. Would be the perfect opportunity and a win win situation for both.

  • jeff

    so much for “america’s pastime”

    the cuba policy is absurd and disgusting. but not surprising because we know obama feels comfortable cozying up to marxist communist police states run by genocidal dictator tyrants h*llbent on destroying freedoms.

    birds of a feather

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