Toronto to host World Baseball Classic?

Canada is a "strong possibility" to host one of the four groups in first-round play at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, a source with knowledge of the tournament's planning told the Canadian Press on Friday.

The group, which would include the powerhouse United States, would play its games at the Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, said the source.

Tokyo, Mexico City and San Juan, Puerto Rico, are slated to host the other three groups as part of the proposed all-international first round.

Subsequent rounds would be played in the United States, where most of the inaugural classic back in 2006 was played. American sites in the running include L.A.'s Dodgers Stadium, Minute Maid Park in Houston, AT&T Park in San Francisco, Phoenix's Chase Field and San Diego's Petco Park.

An official announcement is likely to come in March.

Canada posted a thrilling 8-6 upset over the Americans at Chase Field during the '06 tournament — one of the biggest wins in national team history — but failed to advance to the second round after falling 9-1 to Mexico in a do-or-die game.