New York Yankee pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has announced he will not pitch for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Tananka's home country Japan won the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and finished as bronze medal winners in 2013. Despite the country's success, Japan is not listed as the overall betting favorite for this year's World Baseball Classic. Below are this year's odds according to Bovada

United States — 2/1
Dominican Republic — 5/2
Japan — 3/1
Venezuela — 9/1
Puerto Rico — 10/1
South Korea — 10/1
Cuba — 18/1
Mexico — 25/1
Netherlands — 25/1
Canada — 66/1
Chinese Taipei — 80/1
Australia — 150/1
China — 150/1
Colombia — 150/1
Italy — 150/1
Israel — 200/1

The United States team led by players Buster Posey, Nolan Arenado, Giancarlo Stanton and Paul Goldschmidt are just slight favorites over the defending champion Domincian Republic team. The World Baseball Classic opens on March 6th and will continue until March 22nd. Your official home this spring for the World Baseball Classic is 1045 The Team ESPN Radio.

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