According to ESPN the Cheif Baseball Officer, and the union special advisor will be joined by a group of current players that have not yet been announced. The tour will include children's clinics and a charity event.
I am a bit excited by this. The MLB has not been to Cuba since 1999, when the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game against the Cuban National team. Baseball is one of the most popular sports in Cuba. Players like Yasiel Puig, Yoenis Cespedes, and Jose Abreu have had to defect from Cuba in order to play in the MLB. This may not be the case for long.
Previously, the US Government required Cuban nationals to present proof of residency in a country outside of Cuba to be given a general license to work for a US company. Further, the MLB required even more licensing. With the US and Cuba are now working towards ending the embargo this may no longer be necessary. Meaning that Cuban players seeking to join the MLB would not have to defect. It also means that the MLB will be able to scout talent from Cuba.
This trip is clearly not political in nature. Not in terms of ending the embargo anyway. It will, however, allow Cuba to see our talent, and vice versa. In this respect, there is no one better than Torre and Winfield to lead our guys out there.
--Erica Morales BYB Senior Writer
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