Joe Torre to Manage Team USA in World Baseball Classic

In Major League Baseball's effort to drum up mainstream interest in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, former New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre has been named to the same position for Team USA, according to the MLB's official Twitter account.

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Four-time World Series winner Joe Torre has been named manager of Team USA for the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

— MLB (@MLB) June 14, 2012"

While no rosters or coaches have been announced, Torre will begin forming a staff over the next several months, and the team will be determined shortly after everything else is in place, according to an MLB press release. 

The 2013 World Baseball Classic will be the third iteration of the 16-team tournament. Japan won the first two events in 2006 and 2009. 

While there was talk about the United States possibly dominating the event when it was first announced seven years ago, the Americans have yet to medal. Their best finish was a fourth-place showing in 2009. 

Torre will succeed Buck Martinez and Davey Johnson as manager for Team USA. He has not been in a dugout since leaving the Dodgers after the 2010 season, but from 1996 to 2007, he had one of the most successful runs in Yankees history, with four championships and 12 straight playoff appearances. 

Since retiring as a manager, Torre has been working in the commissioner's office as the executive vice president of baseball operations. 

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