Pettitte, Texeira on top of the World

Pettitte, Texeira on top of the World

Ron Antonelli/New York Daily News

40-year-old Andy Pettitte is set to play in his first-ever World Baseball Classic. 

Andy Pettitte and Mark Teixeira, two Yankees who endured injury problems last season, are scheduled to play for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in March, a source with knowledge of the roster confirmed Monday.

If the Yankees are fretting over either player being out of their spring training camp during the tournament, which begins March 7 for Team USA, they’re not saying so publicly.

“All I can say is the WBC is a joint venture between the Players’ Association and the 30 clubs and everyone who is eligible to participate, can,” Yankee GM Brian Cashman said.

“I know Joe Torre’s managing that team (Team USA) and he’s all in to win, so if I’m Torre, I’d be trying to get as many guys like Andy Pettitte and Mark Teixeira as I could.”

The 40-year-old Pettitte missed nearly three months last season after suffering a broken left leg when he was hit by a line drive June 27. He returned Sept. 19 and was effective in two postseason starts. The last five weeks of Teixeira’s season were mostly wrecked by a left calf injury, but he also played in the postseason.

If a club does not want a player to participate because of injury, it can submit what’s called a “player objection notice” to the WBC’s disability review committee, which could rule on the objection. But with both Pettitte and Teixeira on track to be ready for spring training next month and both wanting to play, it’s not like the Yankees can prevent their participation.

The 2013 full squad will be announced on Thursday, but other names have come out, too â€" CBSsports.com first reported that Pettitte, Teixeira and R.A. Dickey would be on Team USA and David Wright had already been announced as the third baseman. Robinson Cano is playing for the Dominican Republic and will form a double-play combination with Jose Reyes.

Pettitte has never played in the WBC; Teixeira played for Team USA in 2006.

JAVY, NOT
A report in Sunday’s Boston Globe suggested the Yanks were scouting the winter league starts of Javier Vazquez, who is mulling a comeback. But Cashman said, “We have not scouted Vazquez,” though the GM praised the pitcher, who has had two rough tours in pinstripes.

“The team that does get him ought to be happy because he can really pitch,” Cashman said. “The fans of New York didn’t get to see it when he was here, but he’s a helluva pitcher.” . . . Wright will host the third annual David Wright Vegas Night on Friday in his hometown of Norfolk, Va., to benefit the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. The previous two benefits raised more than $ 250,000.