Trump Ends MLB Cuba Deal

Hayden See, Reporter

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump ended a deal that allowed Cuban players to play baseball in America.

The deal was put in place during President Obama’s presidency, and has allowed many Cuban born baseball players to sign a deal directly with MLB teams, allowing them to cut ties with their national programs. However, with the end of the deal, Cuban baseball players will have a harder path of making their way to the United States to join a Major League Baseball team.

“I don’t understand why Trump ended the deal There are no negatives to the bill that I see,” junior Ethan Markovich said.

There are horror stories about Cuban born athletes coming to America. The late Jose Fernandez journeyed on a boat years ago on his way to the United States, and during the trip, his mother fell out of the boat, into the water in the dead of night. He risked his life by jumping out into the cold, dark water to save his ailing mother. That isn’t the only story though, other players share similar stories.

“Some of the league’s best talent has came from Cuba. Ending that flow of talent and making it more difficult to come to the United States doesn’t accomplish anything,” sophomore Hannah Stumpf said.

Some of the most well known Major League Baseball players who defected from Cuba include Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu and Yasiel Puig. Some others include Aroldis Chapman of the Yankees and Yoan Moncada, the top prospect on the White Sox.

“Yoenis Cespedes is one of the most exciting players in the entire MLB. Trump ending the deal is a horrible idea,” junior Sophia Giltner said.

The deal was ended on April 8.