Vidro Opts To Withdraw From WBC

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 23 -- Washington Nationals second baseman Jose Vidro informed team officials and officials of the Puerto Rican national team on Thursday that he was withdrawing from next month's World Baseball Classic out of concerns for his injured right knee.

"This is my job. This is what I do," Vidro said. "I have to go out and play 150-something games for the Washington Nationals. That's my goal. Unfortunately, I won't be able to play" in the WBC.

Vidro met privately with Manager Frank Robinson in Robinson's office for nearly half an hour Thursday afternoon to address the issue of whether he or newly acquired Alfonso Soriano will be the team's starting second baseman on Opening Day, April 3. He emerged with a stern look on his face. Vidro also spoke briefly with Soriano in the Nationals' clubhouse. Later, he played down the impact of Soriano's acquisition on his own status with the team.

"I understand everything Soriano is saying" about refusing a move to left field, Vidro said. "I would have done the same thing. I would probably try to work it out. That's a team decision. I hope that both of us can be in the lineup at the same time. That would be great because adding Soriano to the team is very good. . . . Right now, I'm a second baseman. I don't know what's ahead for us here."

Vidro said he had no bitterness about the Soriano trade, except for the fact he did not receive a call from the team to inform him of it. "I didn't receive a call from anybody," he said. "That's the only [way in which] I feel I wasn't treated the right way. But I have a lot of confidence in [my ability]. I take this as another day in the job."

A team official said the Nationals called Vidro's agent, Seth Levinson, on the night of the trade, and that Levinson informed them it was not necessary to call Vidro.

Well-Represented

The Nationals expect to be represented in the WBC by closer Chad Cordero (U.S.), catcher Brian Schneider (U.S.) and non-roster catchers Alberto Castillo (Dominican Republic) and Mike DiFelice (Italy). Reliever Luis Ayala said he has not decided whether to pitch for Mexico.

All But Two Have Arrived

Only two players on the Nationals' spring roster of 68 players failed to report to camp by Thursday. Reliever Felix Rodriguez is late because of visa issues in the Dominican Republic, but those issues have been resolved and he is expected on Friday. Outfielder Frank Diaz was late because of a late flight from his native Venezuela, but he, too, is expected Friday.

Quotable "I know we have a much better team because we have Alfonso Soriano, and I'll make that trade every day of my career." Nationals GM Jim Bowden on the December trade that sent Brad Wilkerson and two other players to the Texas Rangers for Soriano