Cigars may not be the only Cuban export Americans can look forward to after President Barack Obama's move to normalize relations with Cuba. Major League Baseball has long dreamed of the day when it could openly scout the Caribbean nation's talented pool of ballplayers. 

A possible historic parallel can be found in the early '90s, when the Soviet Union collapsed and Russian and other Eastern European hockey players took the NHL by storm and dramatically transformed the game.

But given the more complicated political circumstances surrounding the US/Cuba relationship, the migration of Cuban talent to American shores won't be that dramatic.

"There's nothing in yesterday's policy announcement [between the United States and Cuba] that would indicate in any way that the thinking of the Cuban Baseball Federation is going to change," Peter Bjarkman, a historian of Cuban baseball, told WNYC's Amy Eddings."They're attempting to protect their national baseball at home. It's an extremely important institution down there...They're doing what they can to keep their players at home."

Nonetheless, if MLB and the Cuban government ever do some to some kind of a deal, Bjarkman said there are plenty riches to be had among the Caribbean nation's world-class baseball talent. "There are 30 or 40 players down there, many of them who would start for any team in the Majors."