Wells forced out of World Baseball Classic

Toronto Blue Jays centre-fielder Vernon Wells will miss the World Baseball Classic.

He had been scheduled to play for the U.S. team. Wells said insurance costs got in the way of him joining the team.

Team USA plays Canada in the first round of the tournament March 7 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.

"I was looking forward to playing there, seeing a bit of a different reaction from some fans. I'm pretty sure I'll be here in camp the whole time," Wells said.

"I'd love to be a part of it. I think it's an honour to play for your country. I had a blast doing it the first time. And there was a sense of redeeming ourselves because obviously we didn't play too well the first time around."

In 2006, Canada eliminated the United States in the second round.

Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston was all for Wells playing.

"I was hoping he'd go, too, because I know he really wanted to go," Gaston said. "He expressed that to me last year, especially because he feels like it got him off to a great start.

"It's too bad he's not going. I could see where that would get him off to a good start."

After the 2006 WBC, Wells opened the season batting .396 (with a .740 slugging average) in April with nine home runs and 26 runs batted in. He credited playing meaningful games against top-shelf opposition, rather than spring training games against rosters replete with minor leaguers, for his fast start.

"Mentally, you get locked in a lot quicker," Wells said. "I mean, you have no choice."

Some teams, concerned about the potential for injuries, would prefer to keep their players from participating in the tournament.

"I think there are more concerns with the pitchers than anything," Wells said. "Position players, we come back and have two weeks of pretty much just at-bats."