“We aspire to a civilized, non-politicized relationship, which guarantees the natural flow of Cuban players to and from the MLB,” stated newly elected commissioner Juan Reynaldo Pérez Pardo
Cuba has expressed its intention to maintain the “respectful, ethical and professional approach achieved with United States Major League Baseball (MLB), which had as its maximum expression the signing of the FCB-MLB Agreement, in December of 2018,” according to the president of the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB), Juan Reynaldo Pérez Pardo, elected April 11 to the position. He added, “We aspire to a civilized, non-politicized relationship, which guarantees the natural flow of Cuban players to and from that circuit.”
He specified that it was not the FCB that stepped back from the rapprochement, but rather the previous U.S. government, led by Donald Trump. “Annulling that agreement stripped Cuba of a relationship similar to those the MLB maintains with various leagues including the Japanese, South Korean and Taipei Chinese,” he stated. Pérez Pardo pointed out that Cuba’s policy is to maintain a respectful relationship with Cubans playing in other leagues. Those who comply with established immigration policy, and wish to, have been able to join the National Series, and some have made the Cuban national team, based on their performance and level of discipline.
“Those who play in the MLB represent no exception to the FCB’s policy of summoning Cuban players residing abroad for certain international commitments,” he said, and more explicitly: “We will evaluate both players who have re-joined our National Series, as well as those who work full time abroad.” Regarding the creation of the Association of Cuban Professional Baseball Players, which emerged in Miami, Florida, he noted its intention to represent Cuba in the next World Classic, to be held in 2023, which he described as an “act of usurpation of the prerogative that legitimately belongs to the Cuban national baseball team.”
The World Baseball Softball Confederation statutes’ Chapter 5, Article 19.2, clearly illustrates the illegitimacy of the Miami group’s claim, stating, “The full members of the WBSC are the only authorities in each country that select their national team and have the exclusive right to represent the name, flag and colors of the country or territory.”
Pérez recalled that several of the Association’s representatives have viciously attacked the FCB-MLB agreement, which would have guaranteed the regular movement of players from Cuba to that circuit and promoted other efforts of common interest, adding, “They publicly applauded the demise of the agreement.”
Regarding the Caribbean Series, Perez stated that the FCB continues to recognize this tournament “as a natural competitive setting for the champion of our National Series,” and defended Cuba’s right to full membership. Granma asked about the likelihood of Cuba receiving an invitation, and the position our league would take if the Venezuelan Federation, or its Professional League, hosted the event next January. He replied that we would consider such a possibility and are in hopes of reaching an agreement with the organizers.
Granma also inquired as to whether there would be any revision of player contracts in the midst of the National Series, currently underway, since some teams have been left without several of the best players, including those that lead the season’s statistics.”The main objective is to protect our championship, this was designed after the pandemic, but we have already agreed that the 62nd Series starts in December, to minimize the effect on the season.”
For Cuba, our internal development, at all levels, is the highest priority, he added.