Teixeira — not Pettitte — on Team USA roster for WBC

January 17, 2013 by Mike Axisa 14 Comments

Team USA announced its official roster for the World Baseball Classic earlier today (seen here), with Mark Teixeira being the only Yankee to make the squad. Andy Pettitte was reportedly going to participate in the event, but he is not on the final roster. Bob Klapisch explains that Pettitte’s exclusion may have to do with the insurance (or lack thereof) on his contract. Not gonna lie, I’m happy Andy will be the Yankees and not Team USA during Spring Training.

The remaining WBC rosters will be announced later this afternoon. Robinson Cano (Dominican Republic) and Frankie Cervelli (Italy) will participate in the tournament, and that’s expected to be it as far as 40-man roster players go.

MannyGeee

The WBC is not ‘important’ blabity blah blah in 3…..2……
- Stu H
  
  Followed immediately by people complaining about people complaining.
Jim Is Bored

Wait you mean people panicked about something before it was confirmed?

I’m SHOCKED.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Yes because it was completely predictable that he wouldn’t play and yes it’s perfectly valid for people to worry about an almost 40 year old, pitching extra innings coming off an injury in an event which altered many other pitcher’s careers for the worse.
  
  Christ.
  - Jim Is Bored
    
    Yes, it is irrational to get worried about something before it’s news.
    
    Christ.
RetroRob

There were additional reports that Pettitte might not have committed to the roster as of yet since he wants to make sure his arm and legs are in proper shape, and that Torre was leaving a spot for him while he continued his workouts (one open spot remains for a pitcher).

Yet I think the insurance story is much more likely. Makes more sense and would explain why MLB’s website had originally listed Pettitte as participating last week, and then he was pulled.
trr

glad Pettite is not participating…Texeira? who knows, maybe he’ll get off to a better start…
OldYanksFan

Bullet dodged.
- Austin Aunelowitzky
  
  Agree
Darren

The Yankees are fuckin ridiculous. The official email from the team states that Cano, Tex and Cervelli are going to “represent the Yankees in the WBC”

No, no they’re not. They’re representing their countried, not the Yankees.
- KeithK
  
  The Yankees consider this a glorified exhibition. It’s in the team’s financial interest to do so. Their statement is consistent with this position.
- RetroRob
  
  Go find a mirror.
Dr. Vinny Boombatz

Robbie and Mark don’t get hurt! We are already paying 42m to cover 3b this year…I am stunned Bor-ars is letting Cano play. Mark try to find your batting average…Thanks!
Dr. Vinny Boombatz

Also stunned that Frankie C is gonna play…this is his shot to make the MLB roster…I doubt Italy can win the WBC unless a soccer game breaks out.