Havana/The incorporation of Yoan Moncada into the Cuban national team for the World Baseball Classic is a fact. The Cienfuegos native “received medical insurance approval” and is expected to join the so-called Team Asere, reported journalist Francys Romero.
Moncada, as a free agent, signed a one-season contract with the Los Angeles Angels for $4,000,000 at the end of January. As part of the protocol, an insurance company carefully evaluated the player’s medical history and confirmed his good physical condition.
In the US Major Leagues, contracts are fully guaranteed. “If a $300,000,000 player injures his elbow representing his country, the team that owns his contract must pay every penny, whether he plays or not. Just as happened to Edwin Díaz in 2023,” the specialized media recalled. Al Bat. To mitigate these expenses, clubs take out group insurance policies.
That is why, the same media stressed, “in the World Classic, Major League teams see the tournament more as a preseason risk than as an opportunity for direct economic benefit for their coffers.”
Moncada received the endorsement, but it was not specified if there was any clause, as was the case with pitcher Yariel Rodríguez, of whom it was established that on the Island team “he will work exclusively from the bullpen (training area), not exceeding two innings per game.”
Moncada received the endorsement, but it was not specified if there was any clause, as was the case in the case of pitcher Yariel Rodríguez.
The incorporation of Yoan Moncada occurs in the midst of a dark panorama for the team led by Germán Mesa. Cuban first baseman Ernesto Martínez joined this Sunday the players who have rejected the invitation of Team Asere. According to the journalist Francys Romero“he will seek to earn a position with the New York Yankees to make a place of Opening Day”.
Martínez comes from “a great offseason training with Fernando Tatis Sr. in the Dominican Republic and playing with the Estrellas Orientales in LIDOM,” added the communicator.
Another player who has said he is not going is Andy Pagés. Which could be the most sensitive loss, because its inclusion aimed to solve several of the structural problems that Cuba has shown in recent editions of the Classic: lack of sustained power, lower defensive range in the outfield and little experience at the highest competitive level.
The absence of Andy Pagés, “hits the opening and integration discourse that the Cuban Baseball Federation has tried to sustain in recent years,” said journalist Jorge Ebro of The New Herald.
In addition to Pagés, the absences of Daysbel Hernández, Rafael Sánchez, Lázaro Estrada and Jorge Marcheco, who plays in the Minor Leagues, were confirmed. The players have preferred to stay on their teams to consolidate their stay and earn a place on the starting teams.
