14ymedio, Havana, 17 December 2024 — Raidel Martínez has become the crown jewel for the Cuban Baseball Federation (FCB). From his recently obtained contract for $32,500,000 with the Yomiuri Giants for four seasons in the Japanese Professional Baseball League, the state coffers will collect $6,500,000, more than $1,600,000 per season.
According to the Pelota Cubana journalist, Yordano Carmona, the FCB keeps 20% of the payment for its players’ contracts, but “the big question is ’What is done with that money?’” he asks in the YouTube program Deportes sin Barreras [Sports Without Borders]. Martínez, one of the best closers in the Japanese league, is not the only case. Another 20 Cuban athletes sponsored by the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation (Inder) have been hired by different countries under similar terms.
In addition to Raidel Martínez, who has just ended his contract with Chunichi Dragons, Carlos Monier, Liván Moinelo, Frank Abel Álvarez, Cristian Rodríguez, Darío Sarduy and Ariel Martínez have secured agreements this year. Two other players are in Mexico, six in Italy and four more in Canada.
According to coach Julio Estrada, the FCB can directly negotiate agreements with the teams that hire their athletes. However, in the case of “large contracts,” the Island has the support of “a Japanese lawyer.” Unlike agents looking for better salaries, “the federation limits itself to listening to the offer and what it will receive” and passes the document to the player to sign. “The Inder doesn’t even know about the negotiation; it is only informed what will be deposited in the account so that it can collect the commission.”
In minor contracts, he clarifies, “the Japanese team passes money to the FCB based on what the players earn monthly.” Estrada had already denounced, in conversation with Pelota Cubana USA, that the money goes into the pockets of the Federation.
Raidel Martínez’s contract is “a historic agreement,” journalist Francys Romero highlighted on his social networks. It exceeds the 26,000,000 dollars of Roberto Osuna and Liván Moinelo. Although, the specialist said, “Martínez would have obtained offers of between 50 and 70 million dollars if he had decided to enter the Major League market” of the United States.
The athlete signed a contract for a record amount with the oldest team on the circuit and the leader of the regular season in the Central League. “This is a very good opportunity for me because my dream is to be in a Japanese Series and be able to win it,” Martínez told Pelota Cubana USA.
The former Chunichi Dragons’ star closer has accumulated 166 saved games in seven seasons and his average of clean runs is 1.71, in addition to 353 strikeouts recorded in 310.2 innings pitched.
Translated by Regina Anavy
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