Jose Abreu defects

[TheLeviathan]

I was thinking about this the other day after reading Passan's article on Cuban defectors. I wonder if one of the reasons the Twins are never in on Cubans is the shady agents/negotating that happens? They are in on so many other countries in that region but never appear to have any interest in any Cubans. Certainly would fit with Ryan's personality/morality from an outside perspective.

[jokin]

I was thinking about this the other day after reading Passan's article on Cuban defectors. I wonder if one of the reasons the Twins are never in on Cubans is the shady agents/negotating that happens? They are in on so many other countries in that region but never appear to have any interest in any Cubans. Certainly would fit with Ryan's personality/morality from an outside perspective.

 

Sounds plausible, but let's not pretend that shady things aren't happening elsewhere in the Caribean, as well. Locking down Sano might very well have been Bill Smith's heroic, unsung effort on behalf of the Twins future fortunes, who knows how much he had to get his hands dirty in linking Sano.

[TheLeviathan]

Sounds plausible, but let's not pretend that shady things aren't happening elsewhere in the Caribean, as well. Locking down Sano might very well have been Bill Smith's heroic, unsung effort on behalf of the Twins future fortunes, who knows how much he had to get his hands dirty in linking Sano.

 

By all accounts what happens with Cuba is unique.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was thinking about this the other day after reading Passan's article on Cuban defectors. I wonder if one of the reasons the Twins are never in on Cubans is the shady agents/negotating that happens? They are in on so many other countries in that region but never appear to have any interest in any Cubans. Certainly would fit with Ryan's personality/morality from an outside perspective.

 

Twins had a pretty poor overall record with all international guys before Sano too. I think the Twins are just loathe to spend much money on "outside" players, particularly amateurs, unless it is controlled by draft, spending caps etc.

 

That fact is just magnified by Cuba, because the only Cubans to hit the market got big contracts and bidding wars -- there weren't any cheap modest Cuban talents to snag and develop like the Twins wanted (Rivas, Rincon, etc.).

 

Heck, given the higher profile of Cuban talents, the contracts with them are probably more fair and reputable than those involving other Latin American players (even if the road to those contracts is murky, as your link suggests).

[nicksaviking]

By all accounts what happens with Cuba is unique.

 

The murder and/or imprisonment of government detractors or the enslavement of professional athletes?

[TheLeviathan]

The murder and/or imprisonment of government detractors or the enslavement of professional athletes?

 

Both?

[Mike Sixel]

I'm with spycake, it is about money, plain and simple. Either that, or they are really bad at scouting Cubans....