The Tampa Bay Rays are set to play Cuba in an exhibition on March 22nd this year. The game will take place in the Cuban Capital of Havana. The Rays will become the first team to play in Cuba in over 20 years, thanks to the renewed ties between the US and Cuban Government. President Obama is expected to attend the game at the Estadio Latinoamericano, which is regarded as the “Yankee Stadium” of Cuba. A statement from Rob Manfred highlights the excitement surrounding the Rays visit to Cuba,
“During a time of historic change, we appreciate the constructive role afforded by our shared passion for the game, and we look forward to experiencing Cuba’s storied baseball tradition and the passion of its many loyal fans.”
Tampa Bay Rays To Play In Cuba
The Exhibition game will pit the Tampa Bay Rays against The Current Cuban National Team.You would have to go back to 1999 for the last time a MLB team played in Cuba. The Baltimore Orioles played a two game series against the Cuban National Team, with Game One being played in Havana and Game Two being played in Baltimore. They split the series with each team winning on the road. This small series introduced future MLB All Star, José Contreras. In the Game in Cuba, Contreras pitched eight innings, allowing only two hits, and striking out ten. Contreras was a key member of the White Sox 2005 world series run, going 3-1 in the postseason.
Recently Major League Baseball has received an influx of Cuban Nationals trying to escape a corrupt government and play baseball at the highest level. Yasiel Puig, Aroldis Chapman, and Jose Abreu are the some of the most popular Cubans currently in the game. Along with those three, there are 25 players who defected from Cuba currently active in Major League Baseball. The Majority of the Cuban defectors throughout MLB history came after the Orioles visit in 1999. Now with Cuba opening it’s borders to visits and continuing to relax policies that have imprisoned its citizens for years, Major League Baseball has a direct avenue to mine and develop the elite talent on the island.
Within the last few days Major League Baseball has begun to capitalize on the renewed relationship with Cuba. MLB submitted a proposal to the US Government that would allow MLB to sign players directly from Cuba, ending the need for players to defect to play in MLB. In an exclusive report by The New York Times, the groundwork for the deal was laid out. From the times:
A percentage of salaries paid to Cuban players would go to the new body, which would function like a nonprofit and support youth baseball, education and improving sports facilities in Cuba. The proposed body could satisfy the terms of the embargo, MLB contends, because the league says no money would go directly to the Cuban government.
Since Obama and Castro announced the US would renew diplomatic ties to Cuba, it was expected that Major League Baseball would capitalize on the opportunity. This deal would be a blockbuster for MLB, who are already capitalizing on the incredible Cuban talent. This not only gives MLB an avenue for scouting and player development, but gives Cuba the ability to truly take credit and celebrate their greatest players. Hopefully Cuba and the US can come to an agreement like many other Caribbean and Central American countries have over player development.
Main Photo: Cuba’s pitcher Raciel Iglesias throws against Brazil during the last inning in their first-round Pool A game in the World Baseball Classic tournament in Fukuoka on March 3, 2013. Cuba won 5-3. AFP PHOTO / KAZUHIRO NOGI
