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First Pitch: 5 MLB teams with the most to lose during the World Baseball Classic

By Kevin Henry

Jul 23, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) react after the Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 23, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) and third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) react after the Cardinals defeated the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB Winter Meetings could be a playground for Jerry Dipoto
Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, left, and general manger Jerry Dipoto. World Baseball Classic Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

As the World Baseball Classic draws near, some MLB superstars are skipping the event to focus on their health and the upcoming season.

Players such as Carlos Correa, Luis Castillo, and Logan Webb are not participating in the star-studded event as part of a group of players who will choose personal health, family and progress toward the opening of the 2023 season with their teams rather than country in the coming days.

World Baseball Classic: Some MLB teams not taking chances with their star players

It’s a tough decision, but it’s also one that has some history behind it as well for some teams, including the Seattle Mariners and Castillo, their ace pitcher acquired in a franchise-altering trade with the Cincinnati Reds last season. After inking a massive extension to stay in Seattle, the Mariners are making sure Castillo stays under the team’s watchful eye as he prepares for next season.

As pointed out in this article, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto remembers well the 2017 WBC when Drew Smyly, acquired by Seattle in the previous offseason, was diagnosed with a strained elbow two weeks after pitching for Team USA in the WBC. Soon, Smyly underwent Tommy John surgery, sidelining him and dramatically altering Seattle’s plans for the season ahead.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder that Dipoto said he was “pleased” that the 30-year-old right-hander would not be pitching for an already loaded Dominican Republic team.

And there are other big names who are sitting out the WBC as well. Look at the potential stars on the sidelines along with Castillo just for the Dominican Republic.

So which MLB teams have the most to lose in a worst-case scenario during the World Baseball Classic? Let’s take a look.

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