Posted on 01/06/2026 3:41:30 PM PST by nickcarraway
In the hours since U.S. military forces captured Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a pre-dawn raid Saturday, officials across the landscape of Major League Baseball have scrambled to check on the safety of players, coaches and scouts throughout the country, while trying to understand how the raid and its aftermath might affect the upcoming baseball season and World Baseball Classic.
Those within baseball were still gathering information on Monday, but interviews with executives, scouts and agents suggested a tenuous status quo in a country marked by unsteady relations with the United States for many years. After a four-day layoff, the Venezuelan Winter League was scheduled to resume play on Wednesday. Despite initial concerns, international scouting directors are hopeful about conducting the signing day for amateur prospects on Jan. 15. Venezuela is still expected to take part in the WBC in March.
A spokesperson for Major League Baseball declined to comment on the situation in Venezuela. The MLB office has maintained dialogue with teams since President Donald Trump tagged Venezuela with a travel ban last year, according to team and league sources. After the Federal Aviation Administration implemented flight restrictions across Caribbean airspace over the weekend, multiple executives — who, like all of the sources who spoke to The Athletic, requested anonymity in order to speak freely about the situation — expressed relief Monday that the restrictions were quickly removed, allowing players and coaches to leave the country in time for spring training next month.
As MLB officials recommended that teams say little publicly about the situation, according to sources, multiple players contacted by The Athletic were also wary of commenting on Maduro’s ouster. The current version of stability could be temporary. Trump has claimed the United States will “run” the country, and told The Atlantic that if new leader Delcy
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
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I have that card...part of the complete 1979 set.
Maybe one should run for office. They’re national heroes. Think Omar Vizquel.
been berry berry good!
I remember Luis Aparicio. A fine ballplayer.
WELL it’s good to know the NYT is focusing on the important aspects of a failing communist regime.
This silly article does the meme...
“Venezuela’s communist dictator captured by US forces.
AND NOW SPORTS!!!”
LOL, well played.
Baaaaze-ball been berry, berry good to me!
The people in each MLB front office did not know of the drug boats being blown up and the US Navy off the coast.
Those B-52s that flew over a few weeks ago were not for the grand opening of a shopping center.
Pablo Sandoval - One of my favorite SF Giants in the glory days.
“Does this mean the mlb is salted and peppered with illegals?”
No, MLB gets them visas to play. Occasionally a visa is missed and a player is stranded in their home country
Good player who made the plays when it counted.
Who could possibly care?
New team: Caracas Capitalists!
New team: Caracas Capitalists!
The Caracas Maracas.
This!
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