U.S. GM expects A-Rod decision by next week
January 5, 2006
NEW YORK (AP) -- The general manager of the U.S. team for the World Baseball Classic expects to find out by next week whether Alex Rodriguez will play for the Americans at the tournament.
"I'm waiting to hear from the union," Bob Watson said Thursday. "I haven't gotten any word. We haven't been allowed to talk to him. The union is handling all of that. We'll just play it by ear."
Rodriguez is eligible to play for both the United States and the Dominican Republic. He said last month that he intended to play for the Dominican Republic, then changed his mind two days later and said he wouldn't play for anyone because he didn't want to "dishonor" either country.
Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the players' association, said he hoped to change Rodriguez's mind. Initial 60-man rosters must be submitted by Jan. 17.
Watson, who also is the vice president in the commissioner's office who deals with on-field discipline, said he expected to have a conversation with Orza within a few days.
"There's been Dominican. There's been U.S. There's been not playing," Watson said. "We'll just have to wait and see."