WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC Plans finalized for historic tournament in March

Buck Martinez will manage the United States team.
DALLAS (AP) -- Roger Clemens, Derek Jeter and Barry Bonds plan to play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic, while Alex Rodriguez is still deciding which country he wants to represent.
Mike Piazza (Italy), Andruw Jones (the Netherlands) and Pedro Martinez (Dominican Republic) are also among the 177 major leaguers who have agreed to participate in the inaugural, 16-nation tournament next March 3-20.
"This is going to be the most important international baseball event ever staged," commissioner Bud Selig said Monday during a news conference at the winter meetings to announce the latest details.
"I think this is going to take the whole international level of our sport to heights that we can't even imagine today. And while the World Series to me will always be the World Series, we're moving into a new era today, there's no question about that."
U.S. roster
Buck Martinez will manage what should be a strong U.S. squad that already has commitments from other players such as Derrek Lee, Dontrelle Willis, Andy Pettitte and John Smoltz. Ken Griffey Jr. wants in, and his father, Ken Sr., has signed on as a coach on the American staff.
"I'm ready to play right now. It's a phenomenal honor," said Buck Martinez, who managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 2001-02. "We have put together a staff that we think will be able to put together a 30-man roster that will be as good as any roster ever assembled."
The Dominican lineup is loaded with talent, too, featuring a modern-day Murderers' Row of Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano and Miguel Tejada -- all of whom plan to participate.
Baseball expects all 30 big league teams to be represented, and players will be subject to Olympic-style drug testing. But a player testing positive during the tournament for a substance banned under baseball's new drug agreement would not be disciplined by MLB, which starting next year will have a 50-game penalty for a first offense.
While Gene Orza, the union's chief operating officer, said a positive test could not lead to a player being tested more frequently for "cause" under the drug plan, MLB executive vice president Rob Manfred declined comment.
With so many big league players potentially eligible for dual citizenship, baseball adopted some liberal rules for the event -- a player can represent any nation that he, a parent or a grandparent was a citizen of.
That's why Rodriguez, a two-time AL MVP, is still deciding whether to play for the Dominican Republic or the United States. The Yankees' third baseman was born in New York and raised in the U.S., but his parents are Dominican.
Piazza to play for Italy
One of Piazza's grandparents was born in Italy so he had a choice between the U.S. and Italian teams, and Orza said the All-Star catcher asked him which selection would benefit international baseball the most. Orza said Italy, so Piazza signed on.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera of Panama is one of the most prominent players who has not committed to play.
Clemens wants to pitch for the United States, even if it's in a limited role. But the 43-year-old ace hasn't decided if he'll return to the Houston Astros for another season or retire, said his agent, Randy Hendricks.
Pedro Martinez (toe) and Eric Gagne (elbow surgery) of Canada hope to be healthy enough to participate.
Each country must submit a list of eligible players by Jan. 17, then cut its roster to 27-30 by the tournament opener on March 3. Teams will carry at least 13 pitchers and three catchers.
Players planning to represent Japan, China, South Korea or Taiwan are expected to be announced later this week at a news conference in Asia.