SAN DIEGO -- #ALLIN.
Every time a tweet announces a ballplayer committing to Team USA for the 2023 World Baseball Classic, general manager Tony Reagins and manager Mark DeRosa receive calls from others interested in joining the club. As a result, this roster iteration has more superstar power than ever.
It all began a week before this summer's All-Star Game, with Reagins driving down Interstate 5 to Angel Stadium and walking into the clubhouse to pitch his top target: Mike Trout.
Reagins -- who was the GM of the Angels when the organization selected the Vineland, N.J., native with the 25th pick in the 2009 MLB Draft -- believed their familiarity could help sway the three-time AL MVP to play in the tournament for the first time. Trout didn't hesitate in accepting the offer.
"In my talks with Mike, he made it pretty clear that the clock is ticking on his career, and he didn't know if he'd be able to do it a little later on," DeRosa said. "This was a perfect opportunity. He felt like he missed out the last one in 2017, and he didn't want to have any regrets."
Once Reagins reeled in Trout -- named Team USA's captain -- it became a trickle-down effect. Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery and will no longer be able to compete, followed Trout in committing. Then came Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts.
Reagins seemingly has the Major League roster of all 30 clubs at his disposal, with the perk of an unlimited budget. Players don't want to bypass the opportunity of being in that clubhouse with Trout. At the same time, others decline the invitation for various reasons -- whether it be club, player or agent. Those have become fewer and far between over the years.
"Basketball used the term 'Dream Team' or whatever, but I think that these guys want to play together and know what this means for our country to go back-to-back and repeat," said Reagins, Team USA's GM for the World Baseball Classic for the first time. "They're friends, and they're very, very talented. Some of these guys are the best in the world. And so they have relationships, and Trout has been having conversations with guys and [been] like, 'Call Tony or talk to DeRo. You guys should do this.' Or Nolan [Arenado] or [Paul Goldschmidt], those guys, because they've been through it, they know what it looks like."
That dynamic should make DeRosa's job of quickly building team unity a bit easier. With so many superstar position players on the roster, it's hard to say who will be a starter or a backup on Day 1. Betts, for example, could see some time at second base.
One thing is for certain: Those who have committed already have checked their egos at the door. Look no further than Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, who told Reagins, "Whatever you want me to do, I don't care. If I don't get at-bats, I [still] want to be a part it."
"We'll see how it all plays out, but we'll evaluate this thing and put the best nine guys on the diamond that we can and try to win," Reagins said, "because at the end of the day, it's not an exhibition. This is a competition we're trying to win."