MLB screws Dominican League
Will Tejada sport the Aguilas uniform this season? Not if MLB has its say.
As the start of the Dominican Winter League approaches, team owners got a flip of the bird by Major League Baseball. The restrictions for Major Leaguers playing in the Dominican League got stiffer. Stars like Miguel Tejada, Melky Cabrera, José Valverde, Robison Canó, José Reyes, Vladimir Guerrero and many others will be blocked from playing. These are the same type of restrictions many consider doomed the now defunct Puerto Rican Baseball League. By protecting these players from "overworking" MLB is shooting itself in the foot. They risk the public losing interest in the League and, it's almost unanimous opinion that what happened in Puerto Rico was a very bad thing for baseball. International leagues have brought to the Majors players like Ichiro and Pedro and a caché only soccer has today. MLB should be protecting these leagues, not screwing them over.
The Dominican League could use some Puerto Rican players -who will be out of the job this season- to make up for the Major Leaguers. Still, MLB team owners should understand the mess they're starting.
