The Best Players Not in the World Baseball Classic

While the World Baseball Classic features some of the world's best players, many chose to stay home and nurse injuries or just to stay in camp with their clubs.

As good as the players in the tournament are, those who aren't going to play for their respective countries are as good if not better.

The teams most hurt by players electing not to accept their invitation are the USA and the Dominican Republic with Venezuela's pitching staff taking a beating as well.

This isn't a comprehensive list by any means, many positions saw a number of top-tier players reject their offers, but rather a greatest hits of shorts.

So, here they are the "I'm Not There" All-Stars.

Catcher: Joe Mauer

The Minnesota Twins' sweet-swinging catcher elected to skip this year's classic after having off-season kidney surgery. He has yet to play in a spring training game for the Twins, and may or may not be ready for opening day.

Nevertheless, Mauer was almost certainly Team USA's first choice catcher. He was replaced by Brian McCann

First Base: Albert Pujols

Pujols has battled elbow injuries over the last few seasons, and rather than risk aggravating them playing for the Dominican Republic, he elected to stay with the rest of the Cardinals in spring training.

El Hombre will be replaced by Big Papi, David Ortiz, but even with such a great second stringer the DR will miss Pujols' defense and monster bat.

Second Base: Chase Utley

Chase Utley, like Mauer, had off-season surgery and didn't want to risk re-injuring his hip.

Dustin Pedroia may have been the US' first choice anyway, he is the reigning AL MVP after all, but having both of these players available would have been even better.

Shortstop: Stephen Drew

Shortstop is the only position where nearly all of the first choice players accepted their invitations. Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez, Jimmy Rollins, Derek Jeter etc. will all don their nation's colors.

Drew is the best player who won't be attending among the shortstops and there may be an argument to be made for him to play over Rollins, though if Rollins is healthy, he is almost certainly the superior player.

Third Base: Adrian Beltre

Beltre is the first player to be held out of the Classic by his club team. The Seattle Mariners told Beltre in no uncertain terms that he was not permitted to play for the Dominican team.

Because of A-rod's decision to play for the Dominican Republic instead of the United States, the Dominican's won't miss Beltre too much, but he was one of the best players in the 2006 Classic.

Outfield: Nick Markakis

Markakis was one of the first players to pull out of the classic, he was out by mid-December, and also the player with the most unique excuse for removing his name from the roster.

Markakis' wife is pregnant with the couple's first child, and the due date is later this week, and team USA's first game is March 7.

Good Luck with Fatherhood, Nick!

Outfield: Grady Sizemore

Earlier this week, team USA took a hit when Sizemore felt like his leg injury wasn't healing fast enough and decided to withdraw from the team. A strained left groin isn't an injury that's going to get better without rest, so his withdrawal makes sense.

It also leaves the US without one of their best outfield defenders and a solid hitter. Shane Victorino will replace Sizemore, but is unlikely to duplicate his production.

Outfield: Lee Jong-Beom

Lee Jong-Beom isn't a name well known to most Americans, but east of Hawaii he's a bona-fide star. He was one of the best hitters in the 2006 Classic and has been a mainstay on Team Korea for many years.

However, at age 39, he is quickly approaching the end of his storied career. Lee decided to pass on this year's classic, leaving team Korea without one of their best hitters.

Starting Pitcher: Johan Santana

Johan wanted to play, Hugo Chavez called him and asked him to play, but the Mets said no. Now, it makes sense why they refused to let him represent Venezuela.

Santana, who had off-season surgery on his knee, has been feeling soreness in his elbow and has been scratched from consecutive starts this spring. Whether or not this injury is severe, surely pitching at full-tilt would only aggravate whatever isn't right in Santana's million dollar arm.

Starting Pitcher: Francisco Liriano

Liriano missed all of 2007 after Tommy John surgery and was brought back very slowly during the 2008 season. Rather than miss time with pitching coach Rick Anderson, Liriano elected to stay in camp and make sure that he can pitch a full season for the Twins this year, something he has yet to do.

The Twins, unlike the Mets and Mariners, gave Liriano complete freedom in making his decision. Liriano chose to stay with the Twins, which definitely hurts the Dominican Republic's staff.

Relief Pitcher: Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon is on the other side of the pregnancy wait from Nick Markakis. He and his wife welcomed a baby daughter to their family at the end of 2008, so between the desire to be with his family and the perceived injury risk, Papelbon decided to pass.

Relief Pitcher: Joe Nathan

The most recent casualty, Joe Nathan dropped out this morning after feeling stiffness in his shoulder. While he probably would have been Team USA's closer, there are plenty of other closers already on the roster. Brad Ziegler, Brian Fuentes, and JJ Putz are just a few of the players manager Davey Johnson can use.