Inside Dish: Venezuelan political climate influences MLB
December 31, 2006
The Sporting News - With the recent reelection of Venezuela President Hugo Chavez, major league teams are growing more wary of sending players there for winter ball or even having their Venezuelan stars visit home during the offseason. “The political climate down there is brutal,” one leading international scout says, “and it’s only going to get worse.” A National League club official with significant experience in Venezuela insists Chavez never would follow his buddy Fidel Castro and ban Venezuelan players from coming to North America. …
