PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Four Rays players, including starter Chris Archer and closer Alex Colome, will be headed to the World Baseball Classic, and the team doesn't believe being a part of the international event will impact their season.
But the Rays will be watching closely.
"Look, when Chris Archer's throwing 98 [mph], throwing 91-mph sliders, I'll watch it and pull for him, but I'll be cringing," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Archer (United States), Colome (Dominican Republic), and fellow right-hander Jose De Leon (Puerto Rico), along with left-hander Jose Alvarado (Venezuela), all will take a leave from Spring Training to participate in this year's Classic.