A new inning has begun for Cuban baseball players, after a historic agreement will allow the athletes to sign with U.S. teams without needing to defect.
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association announced Wednesday that they had reached an agreement with the Cuban Baseball Federation after years of negotiating.
Under the deal, Cuba must release baseball players who are at least 25 or with more than six years of experience, and any major league club with which they sign will pay Cuba’s baseball federation a “release fee.” The athlete will be able to sign with a club while in Cuba, apply to the U.S. for a work visa and return to his homeland during the offseason.
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