Trump administration cancels deal allowing Major League Baseball to sign Cuban players

[Gothmog]

Source: Washington Post

The administration said the Cuban Baseball Federation was part of the Cuban government, so the deal, signed in December, was illegal. The announcement came just days after the federation released the names of 34 players it said were eligible to sign with Major League Baseball.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/04/08/trump-administration-cancels-deal-allowing-major-league-baseball-to-sign-cuban-players/?utm_term=.259bd932ee89

[groundloop]

1. Here's a story on that topic that's not behind a paywall....

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-moves-undercut-mlb-s-deal-cuba-n992191

[Gothmog]

2. See if this twitter feed works

I have a WP subscription.

Link to tweet

The Trump administration canceled a four-month-old deal between Major League Baseball and the Cuban Baseball Federation Monday, saying that the federation was part of the Cuban government and trade with it was illegal under current law.

The announcement came less than two weeks after the start of the 2019 baseball season, and just days after the federation released the names of 34 Cuban players it said were eligible to sign with Major League Baseball. Some of those players were expected to be signed and playing this year.

First negotiated by the Obama administration, the agreement was intended to prevent Cuban players from undertaking risky escapes from Cuba, and from having to give up their citizenship to play in the United States.

Under the agreement, players were allowed to receive 100 percent of a signing bonus, while the MLB clubs would pay an additional 25 percent of that to the federation as a release fee. The players would also have to pay Cuban income tax on foreign earnings.

[louis-t]

4. Really hates brown people.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Plus anything "Obama did".

[Me.]

3. Making Friends All Over The Place

[Iliyah]

5. Jeez wiz, now they want to destroy America's game . . .

[groundloop]

6. The orange motherfucker just killed the dreams and aspirations of an entire generation of Cubans

I was just in Cuba on vacation, baseball is a HUGE deal in Cuba. I talked to many Cubans who were thrilled that they were finally going to be able to see some of the excellent Cuban players in the MLB.

[luvtheGWN]

7. Hmmm -- wondering if those really good Cuban players

could seek asylum in Canada and play for the Blue Jays?????

[groundloop]

10. I doubt it.... MLB would have a huge problem unless all teams have equal access to players.

[LenaBaby61]

22. "I doubt it.... MLB would have a huge problem unless all teams have equal access to players."

That's what a friend who used to be a MLB scout told me about an hour ago.

[Jimbo S]

16. May have to go through a MLB International Draft

Not exactly sure how signing of foreign born players are handled nowadays. Besides, if they played for the Blue Jays, would be allowed in the USA for traveling games?

[bluestarone]

9. UNDO anything Obama did!

[Judi Lynn]

14. So very true. So much hatred toward Cuba was starting to be cleansed by Pres. Obama, too. n/t

[lapfog_1]

11. There is always a "West Wing" episode that shows

how radically different we are now 20 years later.

Season 1, Episode 1.

LEO
[to Sam] What do you know about the Cubans?

SAM
I don't know anymore than Josh. Somewhere between 1200 and 2000 Cubans began
embarking from a fishing village 30 miles South of Havana.

STAFFER
Where are they headed?

JOSH
Vegas.

SAM
Miami. Though, it's not clear how sophisticated their navigation equipment is.

JOSH
Navigational equipment? That way is North, I think is pretty...

C.J.
Josh.

JOSH
C.J., if one of these guys could throw a split fingered fastball, we'd send
in the
USS Eisenhower.

C.J.
That's not entirely true.

====

Now we would send the Navy to blow them out of the water.

[DFW]

12. Y'all think THIS is weird? Just wait until you hear tomorrow's pronouncement:

"Hear me! From this day on, the official language of the United States will be Swedish. SILENCE! In addition to that, all citizens will be required change their underwear every half hour. Underwear will be worn on the outside so we can check. Furthermore, all children under sixteen years old are now sixteen years old."

If that sounds like it's from "Bananas," it's because it is. If it sounds like Trump, it's that, too.

[11 Bravo]

13. Someone must have told Lard Ass that Cuba is one of those ...

damned "Mexican countries".

[Blue_Tires]

15. Wait... Does he have the power to do this??

[machoneman]

17. Wow, he even wants to fuck with baseball? The all-American sport? What a lunatic!

No women voters, minorities, gay/lesbians, teachers, students and now baseball fans?

Trying to lose the election 2 years in advance?

Go Trumpy!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

18. I recommend reading the novel

Havana Heat by Darryl Brock.

A baseball novel based on a real player, Dummy Taylor in the early 20th century. Really good.

[Gothmog]

19. trump really hates President Obama

Link to tweet

[gldstwmn]

20. That should piss off some of his rich friends?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. except now he's messing with 32 billionaires and they might not like it.

We shall see...…....