Cardinals first baseman and reigning National League Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols will play for the Dominican Republic in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
Major League Baseball has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at the Anatole Wyndham to coincide with the official opening of the winter meetings.
The tournament involves 16 nations divided into four pools. Each nation may create a pool of players from which to draw rosters for each round.
Pujols said last month that he intended to play for his native Dominican Republic and his agent, Dan Lozano, confirmed his client’s intention last week.
New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada have also accepted invitations to play for the powerful Dominican team, which is considered by many the pre-tournament favorite.