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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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The spot was Cody Bellinger's if he wanted it.
As the World Baseball Classic approaches in early March, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, in a piece published on Thursday, that he was looking for one more position player to complete the roster. Bellinger, the newly signed New York Yankees outfielder, would have been a great fit for the current American roster.
However, as Bellinger said in his press conference announcing his Yankees return on Wednesday, the two-time All-Star won't be participating. DeRosa gave his perspective on how Bellinger came to that decision in the interview with Rosenthal.
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"I had my eye on Bellinger," DeRosa told Rosenthal. "I thought Bellinger would serve a perfect purpose for it. But him signing with the Yankees and going through everything, he has decided not to do it. And I completely understand that. So, someone in that vein."
DeRosa was referring to Bellinger's unique versatility as a left-handed thrower, as the 30-year-old could slot in at any of the three outfield positions or first base, and plays them all at a high level. He's also one of the best left-handed hitters in the sport when it comes to facing left-handed pitchers.
Of course, all of those qualities contributed to the Yankees' decision to give him a five-year, $162.5 million contract. And after a tumultuous few years, involving some ups and downs, a trade, and three trips to free agency, it was quite understandable for Bellinger to want a normal spring training.
Bellinger's Yankees teammate, three-time Most Valuable Player winner Aaron Judge, was the first player named to DeRosa's Team USA roster as the squad's captain. But unlike in the Bronx this year, Judge won't get the chance to captain Bellinger to what would be the American side's second-ever WBC title.
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