Sources have confirmed to the Cuban Baseball Federation that with the possible relocation of the Caribbean Series from Venezuela to another country, Cuba’s participation in the tournament is not guaranteed.
The invited teams depend on the host country and the league organizing the tournament. With the LVBP (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League) as the organizer, Cuba’s participation as an invited country is guaranteed, but this could change if another league or country takes over the organization of the tournament.
It is very possible that the series will be moved out of Venezuela with the withdrawal of the Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico, Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente and the LIDOM due to geopolitical reasons. The existing tension between the US and Venezuela have created an environment that makes the tournament unsustainable in the South American country.
Sources have also told me that Miami and Puerto Rico are not options for relocation due to them being locations that are holding the World Baseball Classic in February. The Dominican Republic had declined to be another possible location for the series and Panamá will also not be an option based on their economic incompatibility for a future competition.
Venezuela held the series in 2024 with Cuba participating and the Dominican Republic’s Tigres del Licey claiming the title in and eight teams field that also included CPBC non-members Colombia, Panamá and Curaçao to go along with Cuban champion Agricultores (Las Tunas, Granma).
Cuban Champions by teams:
Tigres de Marianao: 1957, 1958
Alacranes del Almendares: 1949, 1959
Elefantes de Cienfuegos : 1956, 1960
Leones del Habana : 1952