U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio says Major League Baseball can end the dangerous practice of Cuban athletes being trafficked through third countries by changing its own rules, without dealing with the Cuban government.
Rubio said on Twitter Saturday the major reason baseball players undergo such travel risks stems from a requirement athletes establish “fake” residency in a country beside Cuba before signing a contract with an American ball club.
“Instead of getting rid of this rule, they chose to pay ransom to the regime with a portion of the players salary,” Rubio said.
Rubio immediately came out against a deal announced Dec. 19 between MLB and the Cuban Baseball Federation that would allow Cuban players over age 25 and with six years of professional ball experience to be released to play in the U.S. league.
The Republican senator joined with U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart and incoming U.S. Sen. Rick Scott in calling for…
