It’s early January in Boston. Each day, or so it appears, there may be the dreaded wintery of sleet/snow/rain/ice and naturally wind. However over the subsequent month there will likely be an increasing number of tales about guys “in the perfect form of his life” and heading to Florida for Spring Coaching. And as quickly as these tales end we’ll be high-level baseball prior to you assume: the World Baseball Basic runs from March fifth to seventeenth. Representing groups throughout the globe, the Purple Sox will likely be represented. In keeping with Chris Cotillo these are the doubtless individuals, though there may be some flux.
Garret Whitlock – Crew USA
Ceddanne Rafaela – Netherlands
Jovani Morán – Puerto Rico
Aroldis Chapman has been included on Nice Britain’s preliminary roster however doesn’t look like a last candidate but in keeping with the MLB gamers listed. Neither do Rafaela, Abreu, or Morán appear to be included on that checklist. However there are gamers being introduced as additions daily so this may occasionally nonetheless change.
However one participant has me extra than different: Roman Anthony.
Final week on the Foul Territory show at about 1:43:16, Kansas Metropolis Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and member of Crew Italy admitted to having one thing of a white whale in recruiting for the WBC: Roman Anthony.
And why wouldn’t he? Anthony was solely price 3.1 bWAR in 71 video games in 2025 whereas principally posting the dream .300/.400/.500 slash line of .292/.396/.463. Pasquantino’s total profession, 424 video games over 4 years with some accidents, has been 4.9 bWAR. Granted 2025 is 2.4 of that over a span of 160 video games so he’s no slouch himself. However Anthony is his prize.
Sure, Roman, from Florida, can play for Crew USA. However why would you wish to?
By the point of the subsequent WBC it’s doable that Anthony is among the many perfect outfielders within the recreation. And America has a wealthy, deep pool of baseball expertise.
who doesn’t have an infinite provide of men? Particularly high-end outfielders? Italy!
The typical of the projections at the moment on FanGraphs predict a slash line of .263/.358/.437 with round 20 house runs this yr. And a few 3.0 WAR season. Projection methods, after all, feed on prior information which on the main league degree Anthony simply doesn’t have a lot of however even in the event you assume that’s his max for a sophomore season assured a beginning job and signed for many of the subsequent decade that’s trying fairly good!
Which, if that is his flooring, is all of the extra purpose for Vinnie and Crew Italy to make their transfer now. He actually won’t be out there for the subsequent WBC as a result of if he appears to be like pretty much as good as he did over the summer season of 2025, MLB and whoever succeeds Rob Manfred isn’t going to need that man enjoying for Italy. They’re fantastic with decrease tier gamers (Sorry Pasquach) representing an ancestral homeland however not superstars.
If there may be ever a time for Italy to scoop him up it’s now. 2026. Simply think about the face of Crew Italy: Roman Anthony.
Now if they’ll solely do one thing about that hat design…
