Cuban Players Hope to Participate in Classic

MIAMI -- Cuban baseball players in the United States planned to meet Thursday to discuss organizing an association so they can participate in professional tournaments, including next year's World Baseball Classic.

The U.S. Treasury Department denied a request by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association for a permit to allow Cuba to send a team to the 16-nation tournament in March.

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, a Florida Republican who urged the Treasury Department to deny the permit, intended to meet with Washington Nationals pitcher Livan Hernandez and Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Orlando Hernandez to talk about the creation of an association. Diaz-Balart opposes Fidel Castro's communist regime and would like a team of Cuban defectors to play in the tournament instead of a team run by Cuba's baseball federation.

Eddie Oropesa, a pitcher released by the Chicago Cubs last spring, also was expected at the meeting.

The commissioner's office and the players' association intend to reapply for the permit, hoping to structure the relationship with Cuba in a way the Bush administration will approve.

Baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said organizers of the tournament are not involved with Diaz-Balart's meeting.