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With less than three months until the start of the VI World Baseball Classic, uncertainty surrounding the Cuban national team roster deepens with the decision of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages to decline his participation in the tournament.
Initially, the player had agreed to join the team, but recent reports indicate that he has changed his mind.
According to a post by X Daniel De Malas, CEO of the media outlet Swing Completo, sources from Cuba have confirmed that Andy has informed the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) that he is neither available nor interested in playing for the National Team in the World Baseball Classic.
Among the factors that may have influenced his decision, the refusal of the FCB to include Cuban-American players stands out, such as Zach Neto, a member of the Los Angeles Angels, who had expressed his desire to participate.
Moreover, Germán Mesa's appointment as manager of the national team is also not pleasing to the Major League players looking to join the team.
The change in position of the Pinar del Río outfielder has raised questions among fans and experts, as he was one of the most significant names in the initial roster.
According to Swing Completo, the decision reflects a disappointment with the policy of exclusion of Cuban Americans, which has been seen as a barrier to forming a more competitive lineup.
In the initial moments of the project, FCB had promised to assemble a strong lineup capable of progressing in the international tournament to be held in March, but the exclusion of key players diminished expectations and led several players to reconsider their participation.
According to analysis from specialized media, the absence of Pages and other key players could impact Team Cuba's aspirations of securing a spot on the podium of the World Baseball Classic.
The case of Pages reflects not only the tension between the Federation and Cuban-American players but also the difficulty of maintaining the competitiveness of the national team in light of internal policies that restrict the inclusion of available talent from Major League Baseball.
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