Andy Rodríguez fourth member of Cuba's national team who stays in the United States will not be a restricted player for Japan

June 8, 2021

The Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) informs that pitcher Andy Amaury Rodríguez Valdés decided to breach his contract with the Halcones de Softbank team, of the Professional League of Japan, the country he was supposed to travel to today from the United States.

Rodríguez remained at the venue of the pre-Olympic tournament of the Americas awaiting the agreed date for his transfer, but he did not show up at the airport, unlike Alfredo Despaigne, Liván Moinelo, Raidel Martínez and Yadiel Rodríguez, who did begin their journey.

His position makes him a transgressor of the commitments assumed with Halcones de Softbank and the FCB, under whose auspices his link with the Japanese team was formalized.

As has already been stated, amid the sustained aggression against Cuban sports, the invalidation of the agreement intended to normalize the arrival of our players to the MLB constitutes an incentive for the orchestrators of these actions who incur in the reprehensible trafficking of athletes.

Havana, June 7

Year 63 of the Revolution.

Young Cuban pitcher Andy Amaury Rodríguez Valdés, who did not take the flight to Japan where he has a contract, and decided to remain in Miami, will not be placed on the list of restricted players and even statements from the Japanese team's management clarify that they will receive him if he wishes to fulfill his commitment.

Mikasa Sugihiko explained to the Japanese press that Rodríguez Valdés is a player in development, belongs to what are called player farms, so he will not be announced as "restricted," as happened with fellow Cuban Oscar Luis Colás.