History was made today as the Cuban Baseball Federation and Major League Baseball have come to an agreement that will allow players to sign big league contracts without having to defect from the country. The deal is alike of the one with Korea and Japan in that it hopes to streamline and also regulate the players who are going to the United States.
Breaking: MLB has reached a historic agreement with the Cuban baseball federation to allow players to be posted and join MLB teams. Still needs govt approval. https://t.co/IGY5W35HGJ
— David Waldstein (@DavidWaldstein) December 19, 2018
And here it is, the formal announcement of MLB and the MLBPA’s deal with the Cuban baseball federation. pic.twitter.com/Vuk3bOVP1O
— Jared Diamond (@jareddiamond) December 19, 2018
Essentially this deal will not change how the Cuban players who come to the MLB are paid, but just like some of the Japanese players, they will need to pay release fees to sign the players. This deal avoids situations that some of the players who have already defected have undergone. Yasiel Puig signed a huge seven-year, $42 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers and after he got here he was still pursued by smugglers who were seeking payment for getting him to the United States.
Other former players are happy to see this deal being put in place, former pitcher Livan Hernandez who also defected says that the deal is most likely going to be beneficial for the players. Some other big-name players who have defected from Cuba are Yoenis Cespedes, Aroldis Chapman, Jose Abreu, Yasmany Tomas, and Jose Igleasis.
