Cardinals' Nolan Arenado calls out 'stars' not playing in WBC
St. Louis Cardinals and Team USA third baseman Nolan Arenado has some thoughts about certain big names not participating in this month's World Baseball Classic.
"There's no reason why the stars of our game should not be playing in this," Arenado said, per Jeff Passan of ESPN.
Arenado offered his take before he and the United States face Japan in the WBC final on Tuesday evening. Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani hasn't hidden his excitement about representing his country in the WBC and, predictably, has been one of the tournament's most-discussed personalities:
The mere existence of the WBC and the fact that the tournament occurs shortly before the grueling MLB season became polarizing topics within the baseball community after New York Mets star closer Edwin Diaz and Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros suffered injuries during the competition. Diaz may miss the entire 2023 campaign due to a torn patellar tendon, while Altuve is expected to be out for at least two months with a broken thumb.
Despite those setbacks, Mets players such as Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil have all spoken highly of the WBC. Angels slugger Mike Trout and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts have made it known they have no regrets about playing for Team USA this month.
"Trout, the Team USA captain, has developed a strong relationship with Betts, someone with whom he shares so much in common but never knew because their interactions were limited to the hustle and bustle of All-Star Games and occasional matchups between their teams," Passan wrote on Tuesday. "Both have pledged to return (to the WBC) -- and Bryce Harper, who had planned to play for Team USA until Tommy John surgery sidelined him, could join them and constitute an outfield of three future Hall of Famers."
While Arenado didn't name any supposed "stars" not playing in the WBC, Brian Fonseca of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com was quick to point out that New York Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are absent from the competition. Judge, the reigning American League Most Valuable Player, said last month his "priorities are New York" after he signed a nine-year, $360M deal to stay with the Yankees this offseason.
Mets aces Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are among other recognizable players who skipped this year's WBC.
"These guys are the best at what they do, they're ultimate competitors, and in an environment like that there is 100% buy-in," Team USA manager Mark DeRosa said about his squad. "It just happens organically. And to represent your country, it means the world. Maybe it doesn't start out that way, but I mean, it has become that. These guys want it."
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