Trump admin reject MLB deal with Cuban Federation

Thinking of this more. Yah. I don’t think the US will allow it. Teams would be in essence paying the Cuban government. Which would run afoul of a whole house of laws.

I guess that laws don't really mean anything if you have enough money. MLB will be able to buy approval from the State Department.

73. Is Cuba open for U.S. business and investment?
Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are prohibited from doing business or investing in Cuba
unless authorized by OFAC. An OFAC general license authorizes, subject to certain conditions
and limitations, the exportation from the United States, and the reexportation from third countries,
of items to Cuba where the exportation or reexportation is licensed or otherwise authorized by the
Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). See 31 CFR § 515.533(a). BIS
currently authorizes certain categories of items to be exported or reexported to Cuba. In addition,
OFAC currently generally licenses the establishment of a business presence and/or physical
presence in Cuba for certain types of entities or persons. See 31 CFR § 515.573. In accordance
with the NSPM, OFAC is amending the general licenses for the establishment of a business
presence and/or physical presence in Cuba to exclude from the authorizations certain direct
financial transactions with entities and subentities identified on the State Department’s Cuba
Restricted List. For a description of the scope of the prohibition on direct financial transactions
and the restrictions and exceptions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.209.

74. Are U.S. businesses that are engaged in the Cuban market and that may undertake direct
financial transactions with entities included on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List
required to terminate their Cuba-related business relationships pursuant to the regulatory
amendments?

Consistent with the Administration’s interest in not negatively impacting U.S. businesses for
engaging in lawful commercial opportunities, most Cuba-related commercial engagements that
include direct financial transactions with entities and subentities identified on the State
Department’s Cuba Restricted List continue to be permitted, provided that those commercial
engagements were in place prior to November 9, 2017 (or the date the entity or subentity was
otherwise added to the Cuba Restricted List, as published in the Federal Register). For example,
businesses will be permitted to continue with authorized transactions outlined in contingent or
other types of contractual arrangements agreed to prior to the issuance of the new regulations,
consistent with other OFAC authorizations. For a complete description of the scope of the
prohibition on direct financial transactions and the restrictions and exceptions that apply, see 31
CFR § 515.209.

www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

Here's the MLB announcement:

www.mlb.com/news/mlb-announces-deal-with-cuban-federation/c-302036110?partnerId=sf96580969&sf96580969=1

The agreement is for players over 25 which means it won't be affected by the International Free Agent limits.

And dead

This whole thing felt like it was on shaky ground from the start.