Eight days before 60-man conditional rosters must be set, no Rockies players have been contacted to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic.
Closer Brian Fuentes has agreed to participate if selected for the 16-team tournament, but he remains skeptical given a deep talent pool that includes Billy Wagner, B.J. Ryan, Eddie Guardado and others.
“No one has said anything to me yet,” Fuentes said last weekend. “The more I have thought about it, it would be a great chance to compete against really elite players. But I don’t know if I will make the cut.”
First baseman Todd Helton remains the only other possibility for the inaugural event to be held March 3-20, although his chances will dim considerably if Mark Teixeira and Derrek Lee accept invitations.
Dave Fanucchi, Team USA’s press officer, said Sunday that piecing together the roster has taken longer than planned because of the holidays and delays in obtaining players’ phone numbers.
“If a player hasn’t heard yet, it doesn’t mean they won’t,” Fanucchi said.
“But if they aren’t on the list (released next Tuesday), they won’t be on the club.”
All teams must cut their rosters to 30 players five days before their first game, which for the Americans is March 7 against Mexico at Chase Field in Phoenix.
Even with a minimal U.S. presence, there will be a distinct Rockies flavor in the WBC with Jeff Francis (Canada), Byung-Hyun Kim and Sunny Kim (Korea), Jose Mesa (Dominican Republic) and David Cortes (Mexico) among those expected to play.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5447 or trenck@denverpost.com.
