Florida lawmakers take a swing at rules for Cuban baseball players

By Bill Cotterell TALLAHASSEE Fla. (Reuters) - The Florida state legislature passed a bill on Friday that would allow Major League Baseball teams in the state to seek subsidies for ballpark improvements, but only if MLB changes its hiring rules for Cuban players. A $13 million economic-development package aimed at encouraging the state's professional sports franchises won approval in the state House of Representatives on the last day of the session. It allows the Miami Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays, along with soccer franchises in Orlando and Miami and the Daytona speedway, to compete for up to $2 million a year in sales tax concessions for expansion or renovation of franchises. The House and Senate added an amendment that would deny funding to baseball teams unless MLB drops a requirement that players from Cuba establish residency in another country before becoming free agents and negotiating with U.S. teams.

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