Jose Abreu

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu, the American League Rookie of the Year, is one of several Cuban players who have made a big impression in the big leagues over the last few years.

(Mark Duncan, Associated Press)

CLEVELAND, Ohio – It's too early to draw any conclusions, but President Obama's efforts to improve relations between the United States and Cuba may one day open the island's wealth of baseball talent to the big leagues on a broader scope than now exists.

Over the last few years the talent to come out of Cuba has been spectacular. Jose Abreu, Yoenis Cespedes and Yasiel Puig have quickly established themselves as some of the best players in the game.

This winter the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Cuban outfielder Yasmany Tomas to a six-year $68.5 million deal. The Red Sox signed Rusney Castillo, another Cuban outfielder, to a seven-year $72.5 million deal in August. The Angels are close to signing infielder Roberto Baldoquin for $8 million.

In each case, the player defected from Cuba, established residency in another country and received clearance from the United States government to sign with a big league team. It is a journey fraught not only with danger, but a sleazy element of payoffs to handlers and agents before a player can step on the field.

"You risk your life when you go into the ocean in a small boat," said Cuban native Minnie Mendoza, Indians advisor for Latin American operations. "The waters are very rough off Cuba. If you get caught and brought back, you can go to jail for five years. And the Cuban government will ban you from playing baseball."

The U.S. put an embargo on communist Cuba in 1960, just after Fidel Castro's revolutionary government took control of the island. Obama and Cuban dictator Raul Castro, Fidel's brother, are trying to normalize relations between the old enemies.

Obama has eased travel and trade restrictions to Cuba. Each country will open an embassy in the other country.

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How this will affect the flow of talent from Cuba to the big leagues is unknown. First the embargo must be lifted and only Congress can do that.

"International politics and baseball is a messy combination," said John Mirabelli, who travels the world in search of talent for the Indians. "I don't think anyone can accurately predict what's going to happen down the road.

"In the short term, I don't see MLB changing any policies or practices concerning Cuban players."

After Obama made his announcement Wednesday, MLB made one of its own, stating, "Major League Baseball is closely monitoring the White House's announcement regarding Cuban-American relations. While there are not sufficient details to make a realistic evaluation, we will continue to track this significant issue, and we will keep our clubs informed if this different direction may impact the manner in which they conduct business on issues related to Cuba."

The MLB players association said, "We will watch this situation closely as it continues to unfold and we remain hopeful that it will lead to further positive developments."

Mirabelli, Indians senior director of scouting operations, said any changes regarding the acquisition of Cuban players would first have to be worked out between the two countries.

Regarding MLB's approach, Mirabelli guessed that not much would change until after a new basic agreement was reached between owners and players. The current one expires after the 2016 season.

It has been suggested that if MLB's access to Cuban players increases, it would drive their bargaining power down.

Mendoza and Mirabelli disagreed.

"The Castro family always takes advantage of situations," said Mendoza, 81, who left Cuba as a minor league player in 1960 and was not allowed to return for 19 years. "I would think the government would sell those players."

The Cuban government started selling players to the professional leagues in Japan, Mexico and Korea in 2013. The players must return in the offseason to play for Cuba.

"I could see Cuba using a system similar to the posting deals in Asia," said Mirabelli.

Would MLB's intrusion threaten the existence of Cuba's professional league, the Serie Nacional? When Jackie Robinson and Larry Doby broke the color line in the big leagues, it was the beginning of the end of the Negro Leagues.

"I do not see the Cuban government letting that happen," said Mirabelli.

Mirabelli did see one short-term change that could happen in the wake of Obama's announcement.

MLB currently prohibits any team employee from scouting in Cuba.

"However, if the new Obama agreement allows U.S. business travel to Cuba, maybe MLB will adjust that rule," said Mirabelli. "Currently you can only scout Cuban players outside the country."

The view from MLB scouts is that much of the top talent in Cuba is already playing in the big leagues.

"I think the major-league ready talent has definitely thinned out," said Mirabelli. "But no telling how much talent is in the developmental/youth pipeline. My guess is probably a lot. I'm talking 13 to 14 year olds."

Spoken like a true scout.