Why Not Row to the Bahamas Instead of Miami?: The Conundrum That Awaits Cuban Elite Baseball Players Who Seek Asylum and the Economic Nirvana of Free Agency

...The singular goal of all Cuban baseball defectors is to sign a lucrative contract to the highest bidder... It is a matter of some loose interpretation regarding how to treat a foreign player. This lack of clarity allows for a “loophole” so that Cuban baseball defectors can avoid the Rule 4 draft and become a free agent. The draft only applies to players from the United States ... If a player came from Cuba, or some other country not listed in Rule 4, then that player would not be subject to the draft. Usually, one can only achieve free-agent status by being in the league for six years. Now, Cuban directors can achieve that laudable goal almost immediately.