{"id":557268,"date":"2026-02-06T05:35:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T05:35:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/557268\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T05:35:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T05:35:16","slug":"japan-world-baseball-classic-roster-is-shohei-ohtani-pitching","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/557268\/","title":{"rendered":"Japan World Baseball Classic roster: Is Shohei Ohtani pitching?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Shohei Ohtani and Japan will look to defend their World Baseball Classic crown in 2026, three years after defeating Team USA in an instant classic of a final, the country&#8217;s third win in five editions of the international tournament.<\/p>\n<p>Ohtani <a href=\"https:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/shohei-ohtani-whiffs-mike-trout-025248326.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">struck out then-Angels teammate Mike Trout<\/a> to clinch that victory, and the now-Dodgers star has earned three more MVP awards and two World Series titles since the famous night in Miami. However, Ohtani won&#8217;t pitch in the WBC and will just be used as a hitter.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Japan&#8217;s squad also features MLB All-Stars including Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Dodgers) and Seiya Suzuki (Cubs) and two top players who are joining MLB this season in sluggers Munetaka Murakami (<a href=\"https:\/\/sportsdata.usatoday.com\/baseball\/mlb\/teams\/chicago-white-sox\/228\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:White Sox;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">White Sox<\/a>) and Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays).<\/p>\n<p>Japan begins pool play in Tokyo on March 6.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s a look at Japan&#8217;s squad for the 2026 WBC:<\/p>\n<p>Japan World Baseball Classic rosterPitchersCatchersInfieldersOutfieldersDesignated hittersManagers and coaches<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Makat Kanero (bench coach)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Atsushi Nohmi (pitching coach)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Kazuki Yoshimi (pitching coach)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Yoshiyuki Kamei (first base coach)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Eishin Soyogi (third base coach)<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Yoshinori Murata (bullpen coach)<\/p>\n<p>Is Shohei Ohtani pitching in the WBC?<\/p>\n<p>Shohei Ohtani confirmed that he will not pitch in the 2026 World Baseball Classic and will only be used as a hitter. Ohtani returned to the mound for the Dodgers in 2025 after missing all of 2024 as he recovered from an elbow injury \u2013 while hitting full time.<\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2d1cf7ebf0084f8f62b2dce6d854b1b0.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>1 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5370c6d3b6634c591bdd6aaf90e67b85.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>2 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b886ce6837701d4aa78caf8ee8e7b842.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>3 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/9a0078a40ba701c10ef9c3d4a704380f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>4 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/9c7076ca2d38c525869e5dea9691742b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>5 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/9cc03e22a2bf51cdf4a86e4634b128b8.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>6 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/860307f78d595727e6e056b84eeceac3.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>7 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5ada6776ea13e9cde6228fc88a01381c.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>8 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/99c8b8c453356255eb69f4c1edc6d727.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>9 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/aae056c8a95eac53b3c2f235c441afd6.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>10 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/57f3e45e0582b1418670cfc97f0641bb.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>11 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) \u2013 traded to New York Yankees in 2017<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/966d60fa6d1283cbc2dd2fa783ab24f9.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>12 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/83315c6d9a3edbb46f34dacdb98675b5.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>13 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a35ff3082fdf49d59d7749b357ef28e0.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>14 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) &#8211; traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/c0a891a1472e16bee0cc77274aa2ead3.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>15 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8296307ccc972e17866a7ffd7caafe8e.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>16 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ff98dab5bf5ff88624dc5b3973c080ff.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>17 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a5591057a30e8c6b81501683a37bb196.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>18 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/347655c39ed7790bc4d104af4615e597.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>19 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/260810052760990bc890e853f6dc9646.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>20 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) &#8211; traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/64d718bbc082f2bca9a2b21072e9c990.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>21 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8f0f94d0247161e36e3fda9b50c063f1.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>22 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8162f10d4cc405865cc017f05b06c033.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>23 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/41170380d0717f5e973007e247234984.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>24 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/b4210575f3dfb2db0e3523d345526b97.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>25 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/f04369c084e5545ba7c7f13af6ea0b1f.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>26 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) \u2013 traded to New York Mets in 2019<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/07910bf43223573ee164a1b4a21df426.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>27 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/90480a0116fa734ed7bc1450bd4bcb08.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>28 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p>$218,000,000: Max Fried, New York Yankees (2025-32)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/21fec3299c141480bcb8ea60254fc543.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>29 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) \u2013 traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2851068c5e3cb4fd2dd8adf68f08c998.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>30 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/db5290de7002d2a3e7bebcc7096bb0b2.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>31 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0d3706ea3428251f5bbbd0c6df5160b7.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>32 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) \u2013 traded to Texas Rangers in 2013<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/f6a394302180544140e99d48a214f2f1.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>33 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/d02ae94ac11a2f856442ccfaaffabd8b.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>34 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1fe5175fc826e42fc8f026c900890d63.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>35 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/e0455d59c4ea1f7b884646125b46ed59.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>36 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/62f8d63b0aa1060ecf644665b5fafc65.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>37 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) \u2013 traded to Houston Astros in 2019<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/51d271994645f3670cee47bf4c55c1ec.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>38 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p>$202,000,000: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2009-17)<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"fill\" class=\"cropped-img\" style=\"position:absolute;height:100%;width:100%;left:0;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/370ead9a26a28c5fae48479b264927c2.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>39 \/ 39<\/p>\n<p>MLB&#8217;s $200+ million contracts<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0;\">$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) &#8211; traded to Houston Astros in 2025<\/p>\n<p>Japan World Baseball Classic schedulePool play \u2013 Tokyo Dome<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">March 6 vs. Chinese Taipei<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>Knockout round<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Quarterfinals: March 13\/14 in Miami<\/p>\n<p class=\"\">Semifinals: March 15\/16 in Miami<\/p>\n<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/wbc\/2026\/02\/05\/japan-world-baseball-classic-roster-2026-shohei-ohtani-playing\/88535843007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Japan World Baseball Classic roster 2026: Is Shohei Ohtani playing?;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Japan World Baseball Classic roster 2026: Is Shohei Ohtani playing?<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Shohei Ohtani and Japan will look to defend their World Baseball Classic crown in 2026, three years after&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":557269,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2390],"tags":[291,5,6942,39,2372,3685,1165,446,3223,774,56,3224,3222,792,778,603,4,73,105,468,775,396,4820,313,7941,809],"class_list":["post-557268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles-angels","tag-angels","tag-baseball","tag-bench-coach","tag-dodgers","tag-japan","tag-kazuma-okamoto","tag-la","tag-la-angels","tag-laangels","tag-los-angeles","tag-los-angeles-angels","tag-losangeles","tag-losangelesangels","tag-masataka-yoshida","tag-miami","tag-mike-trout","tag-mlb","tag-munetaka-murakami","tag-seiya-suzuki","tag-shohei-ohtani","tag-tomoyuki-sugano","tag-white-sox","tag-world-baseball-classic","tag-yoshinobu-yamamoto","tag-yuki-matsui","tag-yusei-kikuchi"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116022067775273244","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=557268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/557268\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/557269"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=557268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=557268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=557268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}