Coral Gables, Florida (VIP-WIRE). “Why do they say…: ‘Times have changed’?… Nooo, what changes is the people”… Joseph McKadew.-
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Shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, who will turn 32 on March 25, has been a unique case in baseball history…: He left the Major Leagues to return to play in his native Cuba.
Arruebarrena received from the Dodgers 25 million dollars in five seasons, plus 7.5 million bonuses and 12 million for souvenirs, cards and advertising. Total of 44 million 500 thousand dollars. In addition, he also played with the Algodoneros de Guasave, Mexican Pacific League.
But he was never the quality bigleaguer they expected in Los Angeles. In addition, he fell into many problems, both on the field and outside, including fights, the same with opposing players, as against his teammates.
The Dodgers released him, and he immediately returned to Cuba, asked for a spot on a team and was acquired by the Matanza Crocodiles. He is also part of the Cuban National Team.
“Major League Baseball is not made for my taste, it annoyed me in the games,” says Arruebarrena now. “Also, on that team (the Dodgers) they impose a lot of unnecessary rules that you have to follow. I don’t know how ballplayers submit to so much nonsense. I prefer my Cuban ball”.
To the question of where he has the 44 million 500 thousand dollars that he received in the United States, he replied…:
“This interview is to talk about baseball, not about my private life. Nobody cares what I did with my money. And since that is what interests him, the interview is over.”
And hung up the phone.
Before coming to the United States, Erisbel had played in Cuba with the Cienfuegos club and was part of the National Team from 2008 to 2013. He competed in the 2011 Pan American Games, in the 2012 Harlem Baseball Week, in the 2012 World Baseball Classic 2013 and in the World Port Tournament that same year.
When he left Cuba, he settled in Haiti, where he managed to be seen by several scouts and signed by the Dodgers.
A Dodgers spokesman told this column…:
“Eribel Arruebarrena has probably been the most problematic player in the history of our team. Even more than his compatriot Yasiel Puig. So much so that we become always prepared to intervene in their disasters. And that was known in all the leagues, because when we put it on the market, nobody was interested in it, not even for free”.
