A player agent yesterday recalled a conversation he had with a top baseball executive in advance of a prior World Baseball Classic.
The team could never say this publicly, the agent was told. But management didn’t want the agent’s client, a star player, going to the WBC — even if he was technically healthy and able.
Such conversations have to be commonplace. Teams have always been worried about losing a player to injury in the WBC, and some players have the same fear.
The Red Sox, who team president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowksi said always leave the decision to the player, don’t seem to face any major risks when the tournament is held again in March.
Chris Sale is not going to pitch in the World Baseball Classic and David Price is not likely to either, the Herald has learned. Rick Porcello has previously said he does not plan to pitch in the tournament.
Price, Sale and Porcello threw a combined 687-1/3 innings in 2016, including the postseason. All three pitchers were on the preliminary list of names for the U.S. entry in the WBC, a 50-player “interest list.” Those lists were due in December.
Dombrowski did not confirm any choices had been made outside of previously known commitments, such as Hanley Ramirez’ intention to play for the Dominican Republic and Xander Bogaerts’ for the Netherlands.
Of his high-priced pitching trio, Dombrowski said, “It really is up to them. They’re smart in their preparation, and I think those guys would only go if they felt they were ready to pitch at that level and ready to do so. So, no, it wouldn’t give me any hesitation in that regard (if they went).”
A slimmed-down Pablo Sandoval is not playing for Team Venezuela, but because of two down seasons and shoulder rehab, he was really never expected to be.
Each of the 16 WBC teams is required to submit a proposed final roster before Feb. 6. The tournament is set to begin March 6 and conclude March 22, in the heart of spring training.
Dombrowski yesterday was very supportive of the WBC. Then again, what else could he be?
“Everybody in major league baseball has given their word to the commissioner when they decide to hold this (tournament) that they would be in complete compliance with the program,” Dombrowski said. “We have always supported it. I guess my thing has always been, if a player wants to play, somebody wants him to play, as long as he’s healthy, and secondly that he’s properly prepared, (they can go).”
The necessity of extra preparation, particularly for pitchers, exists. Dombrowski said players pushing themselves too much is more of a worry than players being misused or overused by WBC staff. Jim Leyland, who worked under Dombrowski for years with the Detroit Tigers, is managing the U.S. team.
There is communication between the club and the WBC team about what a player is capable of handling — how many days in a row could a catcher catch, for example — but players are expected to arrive at the WBC in playing form.
“They’re not just throwing 30 pitches the first time out,” Dombrowski said. “They’ve already, they’ve advanced past that point.”
When Sale, Price and Porcello go out for the first time, they should be comfortably in Fort Myers, under the Red Sox’ watchful eyes.
Whether or not he’d admit it, that has to make Dombrowski a happy man.
