LAKELAND, Fla. — Dusty Baker was watching television Sunday morning and saw that President Obama would be the first sitting U.S. president to visit Cuba since 1928 this week. And he also saw that the Tampa Bay Rays would be the first Major League Baseball team to visit since 1999 and play Tuesday against the Cuban national team. Remembering back to his own visit to Cuba nearly five years ago, Baker was envious.
“I wish it was us,” Baker said. “I ain’t lying.”
The Nationals have expressed interest to MLB about playing the Cuban national team, while the country’s baseball commissioner has openly welcomed the Nationals to play in Havana next spring.