Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Abreu Named as Witnesses in Smuggling Trial

Major League Baseball All-Stars Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Abreu are among the names listed on a witness list for a trial against agent Bartolo Hernandez and his associate, Julio Estrada, for smuggling Cuban baseball players into the United States.  

Per the Associated Press (via ESPN.com), the trial is set to begin January 3, with Cespedes and Abreu listed as witnesses on court documents filed in Miami. 

Cespedes and Abreu are not accused of any wrongdoing in the case, which also lists other MLB executives as possible witnesses. 

Per Curt Anderson of the AP, federal prosecutors unsealed a grand jury indictment in April 2016 against Hernandez, Estrada and Amin Latouff, revealing 17 Cuban-born baseball players paid a smuggling ring more than $15 million to get out of the country. 

Court documents also showed Abreu paid the smugglers a total of $5.8 million in 2014 alone. 

Per Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald, Estrada was charged with conspiring to defraud the United States government and bringing aliens unlawfully into the U.S. Hernandez was arrested and charged in February on smuggling charges, though he pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment.

Cespedes defected to the U.S. in 2011 before signing with the Oakland Athletics in February 2012. He has since played with the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets and is currently a free agent. Abreu left Cuba in August 2013, signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox two months later and was named American League Rookie of the Year in 2014.