The Caribbean Baseball Series will be held in Panama from 4 to 10 February 2019 at the Estadio Nacional Rod Carew in the city of Panama. Hosting the event in Santo Domingo or Barranquilla, Colombia was also considered.
The tournament had originally been scheduled to be held in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, but was cancelled after the escalating of the political crisis in Venezuela. The Confederation had said earlier that the change was necessary due to the breaking of relations of the United States with Venezuela. This made it impossible for MLB-affiliated players to go to Venezuela. This is in addition to the current political crisis in that country.
This will not be the first time that the series has had to be moved from Venezuela, as last year it moved to Guadalajara, Mexico instead of Barquisimeto although on that occasion the decision was taken several months in advance rather than at the last minute as will happen in this case.
The participating teams for the 2019 Caribbean Series are the winners of the winter profesional baseball leagues in Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. These teams are the Cardenales de Lara (Venezuela), Charros de Jalisco (Mexico), Cangrejeros de Santurce (Puerto Rico), Estrellas Orientales (Dominican Republic), Leñeros de las Tunas (Cuba), and Los Toros de Herrera (Panama).
This 2019, the host city, Panama is participating as guest team. Panama had hosted three Caribbean Series in the first phase of the tournament, in the years 1952, 1956 and 1960.
The Confederation also announced Puerto Rico was chosen the host city for 2020 Caribbean Series.
The Dominican Repubic will be represented by the Estrellas Orientales. The Estrellas announced they have contracted several key players of the Toros del Este, the team they defeated in the playoffs, after three key players, Fernando Tatis Jr and Jose Siri and Miguel Sano, announced they would not be playing with the team in the Caribbean Series. Reportedly, their MLB teams did not authorize their playing in the series.
Meanwhile, Venezuela announced that it may sue for losses in revenues it would suffer as a result of the change in the site of the championship. Venezuelan authorities had insisted it wanted to host the event as scheduled.
Read more in Spanish:
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/01/29/551278/serie-del-caribe-a-panama-cambios-en-el-equipo-dominicano
http://hoy.com.do/venezuela-actuara-legalmente-por-perdidas-ante-retiro-de-serie-del-caribe/
https://listindiario.com/el-deporte/2019/01/28/551220/serie-del-caribe-sera-en-panama
29 January 2019
