WBC news: Yankees want Posada out, Aussies, No Johan? and RICKEY!

(Link: Yankees and Posada article)

The Yankees, undisputed anti-WBC champions of the world, want Jorge Posada to skip the event, where he would play for Puerto Rico.

The Australian team has had some details come out. Among them:

Manager Jon Deeble said Australia would have available all seven players - Balfour, Brad Harman, Justin Huber, Ryan Rowland Smith, Chris Snelling, Phil Stockman and Richard Thompson - who played Major League Baseball last year.

Deeble said that impressive list would be strengthened with former MBL players Damian Moss (pitcher, Atlanta), Travis Blackley (San Francisco), Brad Thomas (Minnesota) and Chris Oxspring (San Diego) available.

He said the only high-profile players unavailable were Peter Moylan (injured), Jeff Williams and Michael Nakamura.

Deeble said Australia would finalise its squad after the Claxton Shield series, which concludes early in February.

“There’s a lot of good players putting themselves in contention,” Deeble said.

Trent Oeltjen and Luke Hughes, who reached AAA last season with Arizona Diamondbacks and Minnesota Twins, respectively, are considered definite squad members.

Johan Santana will likely not play for the DR, especially if the Mets have their way.

Finally, let us have Rickey Henderson have a word::

Henderson said he would love to play in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA. If Bernie Williams can come back, why not Rickey?

“What is (the WBC), wrestling?” Rickey said when asked if he would like to play in the WBC. Told it was the World Baseball Classic and games will be played in March, Rickey said, “Can I get in?”

If it were up to me, Rickey, he’d be batting leadoff, but Bob Watson, who is in charge of the team, said, “We’re taking active players. We hope nothing but the best for Rickey, but he’s going to have to sit this one out.”