The list is a bit different this time, set up by COUNTRY, not IN/OUT/IN-BETWEEN. This is being done because more players are joining or turning down invites by the day.
Today’s news:
- Albert Pujols, who you may have heard of before, will play for the Dominican Republic unless his surgically-repaired right knee takes a bad turn.
- Francisco Cervelli, who is of Italian descent and represented them last time, is not sure if he will do so this time around, as he fights for a starting job with the Yankees.
- Jon Heyman confirms that Bruce Chen, who is of Chinese descent (but lives in Panama which didn’t qualify) will probably play.
Go below the jump for the WBC rosters as they look now, along with possibilities and non-possibilities (impossibilities?) for each team. The teams are in alphabetical order:
Australia
Officially on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Allan De San Miguel
Grant Balfour (although there are some conflicting reports)
Definitely not on the roster:
Liam Hendriks (injured during the offseason)
Brazil
Officially on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
The rest of the qualifier roster, as to the best of my knowledge there are no major players who had been missing from it or who would have dropped out since then.
Canada
Officially on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Joey Votto (Needs to pass a physical for insurance reason for it to be official.)
James Avery (Was mentioned by other sources but wasn’t on the original provisional roster.)
Could maybe end up on the roster:
Ryan Dempster (Will depend on how his body is feeling later.)
Definitely not on the roster:
Scott Diamond (Injury)
Chinese Taipei
Officially on the roster:
Chien-Mien Wang
Definitely not on the roster:
China
Definitely on the roster:
Wei Wang
Probably on the roster:
Bruce Chen (is of Chinese descent)
Cuba
Definitely on the roster:
Yuliesky (Yulieski?) Gourriel
Freddy Asiel Alvarez
Probably on the roster:
About 26 of the players (Gourriel and Alvarez presumably being shoo-ins) from their preliminary roster released last year before an Asian tour.
Definitely not on the roster:
Any defectors or Cuban-Americans. While technically they could still play for Cuba, the odds of them being chosen- the odds are infinitesimally low given the political situations involved.
Dominican Republic
Definitely on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Albert Pujols (barring problems with his knee)
Maybe on the roster:
Conflicting reports:
Melky Cabrera (Some say he is, some say he isn’t.)
Probably not on the roster:
Jose Bautista (Toronto is likely to block him due to his injuries last season)
Definitely not on the roster:
David Ortiz (injured)
Italy:
Definitely on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Maybe on the roster:
Francisco Cervelli
Definitely not on the roster:
Nick Swisher (of Italian descent)
Japan
Officially on the roster:
The provisional roster from which Japan’s roster will be chosen from can be found (with my analysis) here.
Definitely not on the roster:
Any of the MLB players from Japan.
Korea
Officially on the Roster:
The 28-man provisional roster, which will only change if there is some sort of injury or other drop-out, can be found here.
Mexico
Definitely on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Possibly on the roster:
And everyone on this list that isn’t listed on any of the other Mexican lists
Definitely not on the roster:
Michael Young (Mexican descent)
Joakim Soria (coming off injury, with a new team)
Netherlands
Definitely on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Maybe on the roster:
Definitely not on the roster:
Rick van den Hurk (wants to be with his new team in Korea)
Puerto Rico
Definitely on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Spain:
Definitely on the roster:
Francisco Figueroa
Probably on the roster:
Gabriel Suarez
Maybe on the roster:
Definitely not on the roster:
Yonder Alonso (had been approached by Spain)
Alex Avila (had been approached by Spain)
USA:
Officially on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Dustin Pedroia (if healthy)
Ryan Vogelsong (had been present at WBC news conference last year announcing that the finals would be in SF)
Maybe on the roster:
Buster Posey (but probably less likely than he was before Lucroy was mentioned as probably being on)
Joe Nathan (has definitely received an invitation, but hasn’t said yes or no yet)
Freddie Freeman (could also conceivably play for Canada)
Definitely not on the roster:
Derek Jeter (injured/coming off injury)
Evan Longoria (injured/coming off injury)
Matt Kemp (injured/coming off injury)
Chase Headley (reportedly not asked)
Venezuela:
Officially on the roster:
Probably on the roster:
Carlos Gonazlez
Maybe on the roster:
Conflicting reports;
Definitely not on the roster:
Victor Martinez (coming off injury)
The Baseball Continuum 