Last spring I took a bike trip through Cuba and have kept in touch with a Cuban baseball fan. I've been sending him news about Jose Contreras, which until recently has been mostly bad.<p>This week I asked him about Contreras's career in Cuba. I'll share his reply for anyone interested:<p>"Contreras was from Pimar del Rio Team, in western Cuba ( Viñales, Las Terrazas). When there was an international competition, Olympic Games, World Championship, etc, he played with the National Team. He was quite famous in Cuba, and among the best pitchers in the country. When he left Cuban Team, in Mexico, he was one of our starting pitchers in the National Team ... [snip] "Most of our Cuban beisbol players are offered very large amount of money every time they go abroad to participate in competitions by the big bosses of the major leagues, some get tired of playing in Cuba and left the country, Duque Hernandez, Contreras, etc. Recently a yacht arrived in Miami with a group of them, among them Kendry Gonzalez, only 20 years old, and he was among the best in Cuba, now he is playing in minor leagues for the rest of the season, and I heard he will play in the major by next season. I also heard he was offered more than 20 usd millions for five years. I'm sure you will hear of him by next season, he is quite good."<p>By the way, one morning I was sitting in a Havana park watching a dozen or so men shouting and gesticulating. An old man was sitting next to me. I asked him what they were arguing about. It was baseball.
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