A Cuban pitcher turned defector planned to make one public appearance before heading to the Dominican Republic for asylum and residency.
While Rolando Arrojo was being branded a traitor by Cuban leader Fidel Castro for deserting his country's Olympic team in Georgia, major league teams were already expressing interest, according to Arrojo's spokesman, Rene Guim."There is definitely some interest out there already, but negotiations cannot begin until the legal status is resolved," Guim said, declining to name the teams that have called.
"He'd like to become a free agent in a week if he can."
On Tuesday, Arrojo, 28, left the Albany, Ga., hotel where the Cuban team was staying during practice. Arrojo and his agent, Joe Cubas, did not speak to the media Wednesday, but planned a news conference today.
Castro, in a speech in Cuba addressed to 170 athletes who will participate in the Atlanta Games beginning July 19, denounced those Cubans who have deserted their teams and urged the rest of the squad to remain true to the country.
In a speech reported by Cuba's Prensa Latina news agency and monitored in Mexico, Castro called the deserters mercenaries, willing to sell out to "those who want to defeat us by spending millions."
"More than medals of gold, silver or bronze, what interests us are the medals of moral and honor worn by our athletes," Castro said. "Building the muscles of the soul is more important than building the muscles of the body."
Immigration and Naturalization Service officials in Washington and Miami said Arrojo had not contacted them as of Wednesday. And it was not clear if he had violated the terms of his Olympic visa.
Arrojo underwent medical tests at an Albany laboratory the day before he walked off with Cubas, The Albany Herald reported today.
"Supposedly he believed he had picked up a parasite," laboratory manager Keith Cason told the paper. "He picked up a mango and ate it and got ill."
Guim said it would take between a week and a month for Arrojo to get his Dominican residency and become eligible as a free agent. He said Arrojo already has several immigration lawyers working on his case.
Arrojo led the Cuban team to victory over the U.S. Olympic team in an exhibition game in June. He arrived in Miami on Tuesday night with Cubas.
"It was a very hard decision, but I had to make it to achieve my dream of gaining freedom and playing in the major leagues," Arrojo told The Miami Herald by telephone from Cubas' car.