HAVE A CIGAR

Depending on who discusses the situation, Cuban baseball ranks between Double A and Triple A level on the international stage. Because of the political sanctions between the U.S. and Cuba, baseball has rarely mixed between the countries. That tide is shifting under the current U.S. administration. Before, players had to defect in order to sign a deal. That may be shifting to normalized pacts. More MLB teams are looking to connect with Cuban prospects.

The Red Sox dove in big time. The Sox went over their international spending limit (which means a penalty and restrictions on signings next year) by signing Cuban infielder Yoan Moncada to a  $30 million contract.  Boston can't sign an international player to a bonus of more than $300,000 until July 2 of 2017, but they have Moncada, who is considered talented enough that he would be the first pick in the 2015 MLB Draft were he eligible, since is considdered as a Top 15 prospect by baseball scribes.

The current trend is clearly to seek out South-of-the-Border talent in Cuba, the Caribbean and Latin America. With additional interest in these youth baseball areas, the cost of signing prospects is going up (which is why MLB put in signing restrictions).