[pete_b]

Can any of you know it all sports fanatics tell me if the major leaguers are getting paid to play in the WBC? And if they are getting paid is it alot? Is it more than spring training? And if they aren't getting paid...why do they choose to play in the WBC? Can I get a little help?

[Lefty Noob]

Good question. I didn't know myself, so I did some digging. This is what I found:

No player will be guaranteed money for participating. While players may receive compensation from shares earned by National Federations, no more than 50% of such shares may be distributed to players. Major League Baseball players will receive their normal spring training per diem during the tournament.

Source: MLB / World Baseball Classic FAQ (via baseballmuse.com)

So at least the U.S. and international MLB players are getting paid their normal spring training salary. As for the others, it's basically up to their countries whether or not they will see any money out of it. For many of them, though, playing is likely a matter of national pride. They take it more seriously than we do here in the States.

[MVB]

Don't you remember when Bud Selig first announced the World Baseball Classic? And Gary Sheffield came out and said that he wouldn't particapate in the classic because no one got paid for doing so...? That gave me the impression that no player received a salary for playing in the classic.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, they're not getting paid any extra to do it. Maybe that's what Sheff meant.

[MVB]

The USA manager is NOT getting paid for managing the crew....

[pete_b]

I knew I could count on you guys. That is just terrible what Sheff said. I mean I knew that we was working out with Barry Bonds but I didn't think that they were reading out of the same vocabulary book or script for the media. How does anyone that gets more than $10 million a year care about getting paid for something. How greedy can you be?