A few days ago, it was announced that Jean Walters of the Arizona Diamondbacks would be playing for the Matanzas team in the Cuban National Baseball Series.
However, Cuban Baseball Digest learned from an executive at his MLB organization that the Cuban player is not permitted to play in Cuba as per OFAC. The response was clear: “Jean will not participate.”
Being that Cuba has an economic embargo place on it by the United States a Cuban National needs to attain residency in a third country and renounce returning to the island, including its baseball. So for Walters to want to play in the Serie Nacional is a blatant violation of that policy.
Recent policy changes have re-tightened sanctions, requiring a signed statement to prove the player has severed ties with Cuba. To sign with an MLB team, a Cuban national must now provide a sworn and notarized affidavit that states they have:
- Taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba.
- No intention of returning to Cuba.
- Do not act under coercion, or work for the Cuban government, or belong to the Communist Party.
This affidavit is reviewed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to ensure the player is an “unblocked national”. Without this documentation, an MLB team cannot legally engage in financial transactions with them.
While most international free agents from Latin America sign as amateurs during their teenage years, Cuba has its own top professional league: the Cuban National Series (Serie Nacional). Players with enough experience as a professional in Cuba are exempt from MLB’s international bonus pools.
Any player 25 years of age or older with at least six seasons in Serie Nacional is considered a professional rather than an amateur. These players may sign a Major League or Minor League contract with any team for any amount, just as a domestic free agent would, without penalty for the signing team.
Walters who has played as high as Reno (AAA) signed with the Diamondbacks in February of 2020 and slashes .247/.307/.331/.638 over 1,029 minor league at-bats in the team’s farm system, while also homering eight times and stealing 18 bases over that span. Walters has also saw action with Cuba’s National Team in the last Premier 12.