March 10--New MLB Commission Rob Manfred said Tuesday that he can foresee major league teams regularly visiting Cuba to play exhibition games if the political climate provides the opportunity.
"I could see that. We have an interest in playing in any market where baseball is part of the culture, and we are going to follow the government's lead in when it makes sense for us to try to play some games there," Manfred said during a visit to the Miami Marlins' spring training camp.
Since President Obama ordered the restoration of diplomatic ties with the island nation in December, MLB has had conversations with the government about reviving baseball relations with Cuba.
Players' association president Tony Clark said recently that there were discussions about playing games in Cuba as soon as this spring but that there wasn't enough time to finalize details.
"The key for our persective is that we do whatever it is that the federal government wants done, that we follow their policy. So we're staying in close contact with them to identify opportunities," Manfred said Tuesday.
"Cuba is a great market for us two ways. It's obviously a great talent market. ... And it's a country where baseball is imbedded in the culture, and we like countries where baseball is imbedded in the culture."
Major League Baseball has a long-standing history with Cuba, with teams regularly training and playing exhibitions in Cuba in the 1940s and '50s. The Cincinnati Reds used to have a Triple-A team based in Havana, the Sugar Kings.
More recently, the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition in Havana against the Cuban national team in 1999, ending a 40-year gap between visits by major league teams.
There were 19 Cuban-born players on major league rosters last season, including Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez and shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.
While Manfred said he would like to see the World Baseball Classic played more in international venues, he said it is soon to talk about having that event staged in Cuba.
Manfred, who had a private meeting with Marlins players as part of a tour of spring training camps, said that the Miami market is critical to MLB's plans to foster interest for the game in Latin America.
"I think people view Miami as sort of a jumping-off point to Latin America, and I do see Latin America where baseball already has great popularity but also a great potential for growth from an international perspective," he said.
"In addition, we are focused on this large Hispanic fan base in South Florida. We hope that the efforts we've undertaken there -- we have a new marketing campaign directed at Hispanic Americans -- will take root in Miami, and it's a good place for us to test our ideas about growth."
Manfred said the Marlins signing Giancarlo Stanton to a record $325 million, 13-year contract is "a sign of the current ownership's commitment to Miami, and I see Miami as a really important market for us in terms of expanding the game into Latin American. So I see it as a positive on both fronts."
