HAVANA - The Cuban Baseball Federation said Wednesday it was willing to negotiate with Major League Baseball (MLB) so players from the island can play for US teams without having to defect.
Due to longstanding restrictions between the two nations, Cuban players' hope to make it big in the US league was often forced into defecting.
But recent measures announced by Washington to ease curbs on trade and travel, and US President Barack Obama's imminent March 21-22 visit to the Caribbean nation, have given negotiating added impetus.
At a press conference in Havana, Higinio Velez, president of the Cuban Baseball Federation, said the new actions taken by the White House "open the door" to future negotiations with the MLB.
"We are open to discussions with the MLB so our players can be hired in that league, or any other around the world, without having to lose their residency in Cuba," Velez told reporters.
The Obama administration on Tuesday further loosened restrictions on travel, trade and the Cuban government's ability to use the dollar in transactions, removing some obstacles to closer economic and political ties.
The new rules allow Cubans in the United States, including professional athletes, musicians and scientists, to legally earn salaries.
Velez said local authorities look forward to the future hiring of Cuban players in the MLB, and also to technological and operational cooperation with the American league.
"We would like MLB teams to come and play in Cuba and for American born players to play in our league, as happens in any other part of the world ... and we want to start as soon as possible," said Velez.
On March 22, Obama is expected to throw the first pitch at an exhibition game between MLB team Tampa Bay Rays and Cuba's national team at Havana's Latinoamericano Stadium.
The 42,000-seat stadium has undergone a nearly 400,000 US-dollar renovation in the lead up to the game, only the second time an MLB team has played in Havana since the 1959 Cuban Revolution soured bilateral ties.
"The game against the Tampa Bay Rays is very important for us because anytime we can compete against the best baseball teams in the world we are raising the bar for our players," said Velez.
