The 2026 version of the World Baseball Traditional is a month away and, Thursday night time, rosters for all 20 groups had been introduced. Staff USA is loaded and the early favourite to win the event, although they’re hardly a lock. Japan is the defending WBC champion, and the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela are additionally sporting stacked rosters.
All 20 rosters may be seen right here. The Mets cleared the path with 17 gamers taking part within the WBC, although 11 of the 30 MLB groups are sending at the least 12 gamers to the event, and 18 MLB groups are sending at the least 10. The Astros and Nationals are the laggers with three WBC gamers apiece. Each different crew is sending at the least 5 gamers to the WBC.
Right here now are six takeaways from the WBC roster bulletins.
1. That is the most effective USA roster ever
Each on paper and in accordance with the gory math. Baseball America ran the numbers and located that, based mostly on the earlier yr’s WAR, that is the most effective roster USA has ever despatched to the WBC. Listed below are the totals through Baseball America:
- 2006: 109.5 WAR in 2005
- 2009: 101.6 WAR in 2008
- 2013: 78.2 WAR in 2012
- 2017: 86.9 WAR in 2016
- 2023: 100.0 WAR in 2022
- 2026: 118.1 WAR in 2025
A reminder how little this issues: USA went 3-3 and was eradicated within the second spherical in 2006, and the 2017 crew went 6-2 and gained the WBC. In the end, the WBC is small pattern sizes on high of small pattern sizes, and something can occur when you get out of pool play and right into a single-elimination format. It is baseball. Randomness reigns supreme.
On paper, that is the most effective roster USA has ever taken into the WBC, particularly pitching-wise. The Individuals will begin their rotation with reigning Cy Younger winners Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal, and have Joe Ryan and Logan Webb backing them up. It is the most effective USA rotation and roster in WBC historical past. Now it simply has to work.
2. The Dominican Republic has the pitching to match its lineup
The Dominican Republic’s lineup reads like an All-Star Sport lineup: Junior Caminero, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Ketel Marte, Jeremy Peña, Geraldo Perdomo, Julio Rodríguez, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr., and extra. It’s a deeper and extra highly effective offense than even what USA will run on the market, plus the protection may very well be wonderful relying who performs the place.
In fact, that is kind of the identical lineup the Dominican Republic had within the 2023 WBC, after they went 2-2 and relatively embarrassingly didn’t advance out of the primary spherical. The 2026 crew may have significantly better help on the mound although, with Brayan Bello, Cristopher Sánchez, and Luis Severino becoming a member of erstwhile ace Sandy Alcantara. The 2023 rotation included Roansy Contreras and late profession Johnny Cueto, and simply wasn’t very imposing behind Alcantara and Cristian Javier.
Just like USA, that is essentially the most proficient roster the Dominican Republic has ever taken within the WBC, at the least on paper. I believe this group has a fairly large chip on its collective shoulder too after that disappointingly fast exit in 2023. The Dominican Republic gained the 2013 WBC and, no matter what occurred in 2023, is on the quick listing of high contenders in 2026.
3. Insurance coverage points actually damage Puerto Rico
No crew misplaced extra vital gamers to insurance coverage bother than Puerto Rico. They’re going to be with out stalwarts José Berríos, Victor Caratini, Carlos Correa, and Francisco Lindor as a result of they had been denied insurance coverage, and in addition Javier Báez as a result of he examined optimistic for marijuana in the course of the 2023 WBC. Báez is serving a two-year interval of ineligibility (April 26, 2024, to April 26, 2026) from World Baseball Softball Confederation occasions. (MLB has permitted marijuana use since 2020, although it’s nonetheless banned by the WBSC.)
With no Báez, Correa, and Lindor, Puerto Rico’s infield will characteristic eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado and a number of other gamers not but confirmed on the MLB stage: Edwin Arroyo (Reds), Darell Hernaiz (Athletics), and Luis Vázquez (Orioles). The rotation with out Berríos will lean on Yankees’ high pitching prospect Elmer Rodríguez. Martín Maldonado, who introduced his MLB retirement in October, and Christian Vázquez, and unsigned free agent, will deal with catching duties in Caratini’s absence.
Shedding vital gamers is dangerous sufficient. To make it worse, Puerto Rico will host Pool A in San Juan, so the crew will likely be with out so a lot of its greatest stars whereas enjoying video games on house soil. To make certain, Puerto Rico has reputable MLB gamers on its roster (Arenado, Seth Lugo, Heliot Ramos, and many others.), however the crew just isn’t practically as robust because it may very well be, largely as a result of their key gamers weren’t cleared by the insurance coverage firm utilized by MLB and the MLBPA. What a disgrace.
4. Italy is a sleeper
A typical theme this WBC is groups having their finest ever roster. That’s true for Italy, who will begin their rotation with Aaron Nola and Michael Lorenzen. They’re the 2 finest starters Italy has ever had within the WBC (sorry, 2023 Matt Harvey). They’re going to construct a greater than respectable lineup round Jac Caglianone, Dominic Canzone, Jakob Marsee, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Kyle Teel. Brewers’ 2025 first-round decide Andrew Fischer is on the roster as properly. He’ll supplied much more lefty may.
Italy superior to the second spherical in 2023 and the separator for the crew this yr may very well be a bullpen that features a number of legit MLB-caliber arms: Gordon Graceffo, Matt Festa, Alek Jacob, Ron Marinaccio, Kyle Nicolas, Adam Ottavino, and Greg Weissert. Pitchers are on laborious pitch limits within the WBC and so they’re particularly restrictive within the early rounds. bullpen could make all of the distinction and Italy may have its finest WBC bullpen ever. The paisans are firmly on sleeper watch going into the WBC.
5. A number of free brokers are enjoying
The WBC is an opportunity for gamers to signify their nations, in the beginning. For some gamers, it is an opportunity to indicate huge league groups that hey, I can nonetheless do that, and it’s best to signal me. A number of unsigned free brokers will play within the WBC, most notably former MVP Paul Goldschmidt. He’s on USA’s roster and can again up Bryce Harper at first base, and probably pinch-hit towards powerful lefties within the late innings. Goldschmidt was a part of USA’s WBC-winning crew in 2017.
Different unsigned free brokers on WBC rosters embody Jon Berti (Italy), Tommy Kahnle (Israel), Germán Márquez (Venezuela), Jose Quintana (Colombia), Tomoyuki Sugano (Japan), Ramón Urías (Mexico), and Christian Vázquez (Puerto Rico). Some will signal within the weeks main as much as the WBC and a few may very properly signal after the WBC. For these unsigned free brokers, the WBC is an opportunity to organize for the season and showcase themselves as a lot as it’s a likelihood to signify their nations.
6. Remembering some guys
The WBC has a knack for bringing gamers out of retirement. The most effective instance is Eric Gagne suiting up for Canada in 2017, practically a decade following his final MLB look. This yr’s WBC will characteristic former White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez. Now 44, Ramirez is on Cuba’s roster regardless of not enjoying within the huge leagues since 2016, and never enjoying anyplace since 2018. Ramirez would be the oldest participant ever to play within the WBC.
Different gamers returning to the sphere within the WBC after being out of baseball for a while embody Erisbel Arruebarrena (Cuba), Phillippe Aumont (Canada), Lucius Fox (Nice Britain), James Paxton (Canada), and Vance Worley (Nice Britain). Aumont and Worley haven’t pitched professionally since enjoying within the final WBC.
The WBC is actually nice, actually entertaining baseball that includes gamers passionately representing their nations. It is also a good time to recollect some guys, and the 2026 WBC definitely delivers on that entrance.
