Cuban baseball officials face allegations over player salary deductions

A dispute has emerged regarding the distribution of salaries for Cuban baseball players signed to professional contracts abroad. José Ramón Rodríguez Menéndez, a Cuban outfielder, has accused the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB) and Cubadeportes of seizing 25% of players' salaries. He claims that players are forced to pay these percentages out of their own earnings, contradicting official statements.

Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, president of the FCB, has denied these allegations. He stated that athletes managed by Cubadeportes receive 100% of their salaries, asserting that the 20% fee paid to the institution is covered by the hiring clubs rather than the players. Pérez Pardo also noted that the federation assists with essential documentation, such as visas and passports, as an added benefit of remaining under their management.

The controversy follows a shift in how Cuba manages professional sports exports, moving from a strictly amateur model to facilitating contracts in foreign leagues, including China and Japan. For example, Raidel Martínez recently signed a four-season deal with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan valued at $32.5 million, a contract that provides significant revenue to the Cuban state.