On Saturday, Boston Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock announced that he is going to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic next March.

The Americans, who are coming off a second-place finish in 2023, are looking to take the Gold Medal for the second time (2017). While much of the roster is unknown, we do know that Whitlock will join Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Aaron Judge, Paul Skenes and Corbin Carroll in representing the United States.

While Whitlock's inclusion is great news for Team USA, it is a disruption for the Red Sox in spring training, and he likely won't be the only one to step away. World Baseball Classic players can be away from their teams for up to three weeks or so, depending on how far they go in the tournament.

The Whitlock file

The 29-year-old Georgia native is a success story of the Rule-5 Draft, having joined the Red Sox in 2021. Having served as both a starter and a reliever in his career, he's become an excellent bullpen piece for Alex Cora, pitching to a 2.25 ERA in 62 outings this past season. In 72.0 innings, he struck out 91 batters with his upper-90s fastball and his outstanding changeup.

Impact on the Red Sox

Any time a player goes to the World Baseball Classic, there's always the concern of injury, and that will be prevalent in everyone's minds this time around as well.

As for the impact of Whitlock's absence? It will probably be negligible for the Red Sox, and it will give other pitchers a chance to carve out roles for 2026.

However, the absences of other players could be far more significant.

What other players could be playing in the WBC?

This is certainly informed speculation, but all of the following players have been linked to the WBC already OR would make ideal candidates for their nations.

--Garrett Crochet, Team USA (P)

--Carlos Narvaez, Team Venezuela (C)

--Trevor Story, Team USA (SS)

--Marcelo Mayer, Team Mexico (INF)

--Wilyer Abreu, Team Venezuela (OF)

--Ceddanne Rafalea, Team Netherlands (OF)

--Jarren Duran, Team Mexico (OF)

--Masataka Yoshida, Team Japan (OF/DH)

--Brayan Bello, Team Dominican Republic (P)

It should be noted that Yoshida and Duran played in the last WBC, and it should also be noted that there's a chance neither player is on the Red Sox roster come spring training. As noted by Chris Cotillo of MassLIVE and Shawn Spradling, Aroldis Chapman has also expressed interest in playing for Team Great Britain.

Mayer has already been linked to the Mexican team and has been expected to represent that nation for months. He was born in the United States but is of Mexican heritage. It will be interesting if he elects to stay back in order to try to win a starting job with the Red Sox and how that decision will affect him.

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