Padres prospect Edward Olivares would be eligible to play for Venezuela in the Tokyo GamesGETTY IMAGES
The upcoming baseball competition at the Tokyo Games "received a significant boost" last week, with an agreement to allow 40-man roster players who are not in MLB to "represent their countries in the Tokyo Games and in two qualifying tournaments preceding it," according to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com. Short of halting the MLB schedule in order to allow 26-man roster players to compete, the deal among MLB, the MLBPA and World Baseball Softball Confederation "ensures the next-highest competitive tier of players will be involved." Most immediately, the development "improves the talent pool available for national federations arriving at a critical stage in the selection process for the Americas qualifier." Teams are "not obligated to allow these players to participate in the qualifier or the Olympics themselves, but the fact that they are eligible adds much intrigue." The expanded talent pool "could help" Team USA’s rivals "as much as -- or perhaps more than -- the U.S. itself." Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization have "arranged for mid-summer breaks" in their '20 schedules, so players in those leagues are "expected to be available to their national teams" (MLB.com, 2/28).
MAKING A GAME PLAN: In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III noted the decision "undoubtedly will lead to many discussions between teams, players and their agents." Twins President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey said that he is "under the impression that if, for instance, his 27th-best player is the first reliever needed to be called up, he will not have to be released for international duty." However, Falvey is "aware he might have some players who want to represent their countries." He said, "Those are the conversations we have to have. We’re not ruling anything out before it’s started" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 3/1).
