Trump Cancels Major League Baseball's Deal to Sign Cuban Players
- U.S. says agreement would have let Cuba garnish player wages
- Shift means Cuban players may face dangerous route to the U.S.
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The Trump administration blocked an agreement that would have let Cuban baseball players come to the U.S. without having to defect, saying the deal would ultimately benefit the Cuban government.
Under the agreement, ballplayers who met certain age and experience criteria could be signed by Major League Baseball teams. A portion of the signing bonus offered to the athletes would have been returned to the Cuban Baseball Federation, similar to the way U.S. franchises pay Asian teams when signing players to come play in America.