Major League Baseball: Historic deal allows Cuban players into MLB

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Last December, a historic deal was announced between Cuba and the Major League Baseball, allowing players from the Caribbean country to sign with American clubs. But some U.S. lawmakers are taking aim at the deal calling it a "farce". CGTN's Luis Chirino spoke with players and other baseball specialists in Havana and here is what he found.

Baseball is Cuba's national sport and the pride of its people.

PEDRO LUIS LAZO CUBA PITCHER "Baseball is in the blood of every Cuban. It's the greatest thing we Cubans adore."

The recently signed Major League Baseball Cuba deal is not one-sided, said the Cuban Federation President.

HIGINIO VELEZ CUBAN BASEBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT "Now everyone will get a benefit. The players will get what they deserve, the federation will get its cut, and the MLB will have a legal source and economic benefits."

But some US lawmakers, like Senator Marco Rubio, say the deal only benefits the Cuban government and must be overruled.

HIGINIO VELEZ 2004 OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL WINNING COACH "A percentage for the athlete-training rights is paid by the clubs to the federation and this money we use to develop baseball in Cuba. It doesn't go to any government entity, and we can prove that."

Players like catcher Frank Camilo Morejon previously signed with Italian and Canadian clubs and he says his contracts were fully honored.

FRANK CAMILO MOREJON CUBA CATCHER "I read my contract, they explained it to me, I agreed with the amount, I signed it, and I received all the money for me and my family. No other one touched it."

Along with the Major League contracts, there is the dream many want to make reality.

ALFREDO FADRAGAS CUBA CATCHER "This would be like reaching the top of my dreams and my training. A new future, but this must go step by step, and with hard work I can get there."

Cuban baseball has attained top successes over the years, say those who know its history.

ANGEL ORTEGA SPORTS ANALYST "We have been Olympic champs in Barcelona, in Athens, and Cuban baseball has experienced many unforgettable moments."

The Major League-Cuba deal is a major step forward in bilateral relations and it would be affected if the contract is overruled.

ANGEL ORTEGA "It would be a defeat for U.S. policy, because baseball is a sport, and neither the Cuban nor the U.S. people would like to see it politicized."

Baseball diplomacy has made it possible for U.S.-Cuba political rapprochement, just like when former U.S. President Barack Obama came to Cuba in 2016, and attended a Cuba-Tampa Bay Rays exhibition game accompanied by former Cuban president Raul Castro. Another bilateral commitment, the partnership between the Cuban Baseball Federation with the U.S. Little League Baseball International.

STEPHEN KEENER LITTLE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT "Whether that would be through equipment, through training clinics, help develop playing fields, that's one of our goals with this agreement."

LUIS CHIRINO HAVANA "Americans and Cubans share a major piece of national pride, BASEBALL, which will continue to play a significant role in uniting the two peoples and the two nations. LUIS CHIRINO, CGTN, HAVANA."