Grant Balfour To Sit Out WBC

Grant Balfour arrived in camp today, and he won’t be leaving to join the Australian team for the World Baseball Classic.

Though Balfour was on Australia’s provisional roster and looking forward to playing for his country, he said the Rays made it clear they would prefer he sit out the competition and focus on preparing for the season and he agreed to do so.

"I would like to have played; it would have been fun," Balfour said. "But it’s good to be in camp and back with the team."

We're starting to get real news, it must be spring.

over 3 years ago Tommy Rancel 8 comments 0 recs |

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Balfour To Sit Out WBC

One up for the Aussie

by CharlieRay on Feb 13, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions

Yay!

So whose left?

I have it at

JP Howell(come on Rays, convince him not to go also)
Scott Kazmir(prob will wind up sitting it out)
Akinori Iwamura(something)
Evan Longoria(plz dont get hurt)

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Feb 13, 2009 11:45 AM EST reply actions

I didn't think Longoria got an invite

Did I miss something?

by Erik Hahmann on Feb 13, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions

I am pretty sure he was 1 of the original 8 that were gonna go

And never said he was gonna sit it out.

However, I hope I am wrong because then its just JP and Aki, not bad for a team that originally had 8 players going.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Feb 13, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

He was on the provisional roster

Has not received an official invite

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 13, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds like Kazmir might also

Heater

LHP Scott Kazmir said the Rays have filed a request with MLB officials to block him from participating based on the time he spent on the DL last season, and he expects a resolution in the next few days. Players who spent 45 days on the DL can be blocked from playing, Kazmir was out 44 days.

Kazmir said he had been looking forward to playing for Team USA, that the opportunity was "big for me,‘’ but "at the same time you understand where (the Rays) are coming from.’’ He said he would be disappointed if he didn’t get to play

by Tommy Rancel on Feb 13, 2009 11:45 AM EST reply actions