My Ideal Team USA Roster

Now that the calendar has flipped to 2013, it's time to start looking ahead to some of the major international sporting events we have in store.  There are World Championships in the Summer Olympic sports, as well as the announcement of the 2020 Olympic host city.  There's also 2014 World Cup qualifying, perhaps the biggest and most significant event of them all, which will take place throughout the year.  But the one I'm most excited about is the World Baseball Classic, the only international baseball tournament where Major League players represent their native countries.

The WBC has already begun in earnest--four qualifying tournaments were held in September and November--but the real tournament doesn't begin until March.  Each of the 16 nations has already announced two players that will be on the roster, with the full squads being unveiled in the coming weeks.  Mets third baseman David Wright and Twins catcher Joe Mauer are confirmed members of Team USA, which will be managed by Joe Torre.  But who else is going to be on the roster? 

Assembling a team of Major League all-stars is never easy.  Especially during Spring Training.  You've got to put forth the most competitive team possible while also taking into consideration the players' preparations for the six-month season ahead.  Then there's the task of making sure the position players get enough at-bats to be ready.  And the pitching is the biggest issue.  In early March, starters aren't yet ready to go deep into games.  That's the main reason why the WBC has a maximum pitch count rule.  But it also means you've got to load up on pitchers.  Fortunately, teams will only need three starters, with a fourth available.

With that in mind, here's my ideal 28-man roster for Team USA.  (Keep in mind, I have no idea how many of these guys will actually want to play, although I did keep Derek Jeter and some others recovering from injuries out.)  I'm taking four starting pitchers, eight relievers and 16 position players (two at each position).  Since Team USA especially has to work everybody in, and, for the most part, the players are interchangeable, there's no real "starting lineup" aside from the starting pitchers.

Starting Pitchers: Justin Verlander (Tigers), Jered Weaver (Angels), Matt Cain (Giants), David Price (Rays)
Relief Pitchers: Craig Kimbrel (Braves), Jonny Venters (Braves), Marc Rzepczynski (Cardinals), Matt Thornton (White Sox), Joe Nathan (Rangers), Joel Hanrahan (Pirates), David Robertson (Yankees), Jonathan Papelbon (Phillies)
Catchers: *Joe Mauer (Twins), Buster Posey (Giants)
1st Basemen: Prince Fielder (Tigers), Paul Konerko (White Sox)
2nd Basemen: Ian Kinsler (Rangers), Dustin Pedroia (Red Sox)
Shortstops: Troy Tulowitzki (Rockies), Ian Desmond (Nationals)
3rd Basemen: *David Wright (Mets), David Freese (Cardinals)
Outfielders: Matt Kemp (Dodgers), Mike Trout (Angels), Josh Hamilton (Angels), Adam Jones (Orioles), Ryan Braun (Brewers), Jay Bruce (Reds)

Again, the "starting lineup" is a relative term, but here's what one might look like:

Trout-RF, Kinsler-2B, Hamilton-DH, Fielder-1B, Kemp-CF, Wright-3B, Braun-LF, Mauer-C, Tulowitzki-SS

There are, of course, a number of options for Team USA that I didn't include.  Regardless of who's on the roster, the American team figures to be one of the strongest in the field.  I can't wait to see who's actually going to be on the team.  Or for the World Baseball Classic to begin in March.