YANKEES 101

Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte and first baseman Mark Teixeira will be part of former Yankees manager Joe Torre's United States roster for this year's World Baseball Classic.  According to CBS Sports baseball insider Jon Heyman, Pettitte has committed to a join a staff that includes Cy Young Award winner and former New York Met R.A. Dickey, while Teixeira will join a star-laden lineup that includes Mets third baseman David Wright, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, and Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones. 

For Torre, this will be his first time back in the dugout since he stepped down as Dodgers manager after the 2010 season. The two-time AL Manager of the Year and the presider over four World Series titles in his 12 seasons in the Bronx, Torre reunites with his former ace in Pettitte. Additionally, Teixeira declined a 2009 invitation after signing as a free agent with the Yankees and will make his first WBC appearance. For Pettitte, this is his first appearance in the international tournament as well. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who has played for the United States in both renditions of the tournament since its inception in 2006, is rehabilitating from a broken left ankle suffered in last year's American League Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers and will not play.

The U.S. opens play on March 8 when they square off against Mexico at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Japan has repeated as champions in the first two years of the tournament, defeating Cuba in the 2006 final and outlasting South Korea in extra innings in the 2009 final.

 

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Tags: Adam Jones, Andy Pettitte, Baseball, David Wright, Derek Jeter, Giancarlo Stanton, Joe Mauer, Joe Torre, Mark Teixeira, MLB, New York, New York Yankees, R.A. Dickey, Ryan Braun, World Baseball Classic

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