MLB mulling on Spring Training games in Cuba

Since the US government changed it’s stance towards Cuba, the island republic is hot. Not only did the Biloxi Shuckers attempt to arrange games vs. Cuban teams, some MLB teams are doing the same.

Today, the website of FOX Sports headed that MLB is considering to play Spring Training games in Cuba. According to Baseball Players Association’s president Tony Clark, there have been ongoing negotiations to play ST games in Cuba. But there was not enough time to hammer out a deal for this season.

Major league teams regularly held spring training camps in Cuba in the 1940s and `50s. The Cincinnati Reds had a Triple-A affiliate in Havana (the Sugar Kings) before Fidel Castro drove out dictator Bautista and banned professional sports.

In 1999 after a lot of lobbying by Orioles owner Peter Angelos, the O’s played two exhibition games against the Cuban National team; one in Baltimore (a win for the Cuban National team) and one in Havana (a win for the O’s).

The Brooklyn Dodgers had Spring Training camp in Cuba for several years before moving to Vero Beach in Florida.

It is not clear if MLB will only play a couple of games or if plans are to have Spring Traning at the island in the future. I don’t think that will be the case.