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| Puig could play an MLB game in Cuba one day.Photo Credit: USA Today Sports |
In the wake of the renewed commitment to the U.S-Cuba diplomatic relationship by both sides, this could have a significant impact on MLB's role in Cuban baseball.
By: Michael Hanley
President Obama announced that the United States is taking proactive steps to revitalize diplomatic ties between the U.S and Cuba. It is the thawing point in what have been a very frosty relationship that dates back 50 years. This move will no doubt have a big impact on the country of Cuba itself but also could have a significant impact on major league baseball and how it is affiliated with the Caribbean nation.
Here was the official statement from the office of Major League Baseball on the news of the U.S-Cuba talks:
"Major League Baseball is closely monitoring the White House's announcement regarding Cuban-American relations," said MLB in a statement on Wednesday. "While there are not sufficient details to make a realistic evaluation, we will continue to track this significant issue, and we will keep our Clubs informed if this different direction may impact the manner in which they conduct business on issues related to Cuba."
These actions could lead to a much easier and less dangerous path for Cuban born baseball players to get to the United States.For years we have heard the horror stories from many Cuban major league baseball players of the arduous and life threatening measures they have to take trying to get our of Cuba, into a raft and pray that they make it to the U.S coastline before they are caught by U.S officials.
This also will end the sickening and dirty practice of smugglers trying to take these young players and getting all sorts of money tied up with it and then threatening the players if they do not agree to certain demands.
This carves out a path wherein Cuban born players can go to the United States on their own terms, do it safely with family or friends and be able to arrive and be privy to all the great services and resources they need to get acclimated to the U.S.
The easing of the travel restrictions by the U.S on Cuba could also not only help those who have family back in that country but also help MLB explore a new opportunity for live, regular season games to be played inside the country. Major League Baseball has been very aggressive in its efforts to expand the reach of baseball and to globalize the sport. It has routinely held games of all varieties in China, Japan and more recently Australia.
Just imagine the amount of buzz and popularity in Cuba their would be for a regular season series to be played there and for Cuban citizens to see their favorite players or team in person for the first time in their lives. It could lead to a boon for MLB and another audience to put time and effort into to make them regular viewers of the game.
This new dialogue between the two countries could also one day to leading to a minor league affiliate of a major league club being based in Cuba or even possibly a franchise based in the baseball crazy country.Here is a stunning fact about the last time an MLB team had an affiliate in Cuba (via Mike Axisa, CBS Sports) :
The Havana Sugar Kings, which were the Reds' Triple-A affiliate from 1954-60, were the last minor league team based in Cuba.
Now the idea of having a minor league baseball team or a major league franchise in Cuba is an idea that is very far from even being considered but it is not as crazy of a thought as it was yesterday. Baseball is such a beloved and cared about sport in the country that MLB would be crazy not to eventually see if their would be enough support within the country to support a franchise that could be apart of the sport.
This is not a foreign idea as the league has a team in Toronto,Canada now and had one in Montreal up until a decade ago. Just imagine the amount of popularity that would ensue of a citizen in Cuba could go to Havana let us say and catch a major league baseball game and be able to support a team that not only represents his or her city but the entire country as a whole. I think allot of national pride would be shown by people and would be a passion that would spread like wildfire.
Now their are all sorts of hurdles still yet to be cleared for not only the baseball aspect of this whole situation but the news today enhances the prospects of MLB having a larger and more substantial impact on Cuban baseball for the long term than ever before in its history.
Follow me on Twitter: @Magic20099
