The Florida Marlins took a drastic step to protect their projected starting pitching rotation for 2009 by filing papers with MLB to block RHP Anibal Sanchez from competing in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. The team filed papers late last week to prevent Sanchez from pitching for his native Venezuela in the WBC, citing medical reasons. Sanchez, who is currently healthy and good to go for the Marlins in 2009, understands the decision made by his team to block his participation.

The Marlins’ concerns are not unfounded. Sanchez broke on the scene in 2006 as a rookie and went 10-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 18 games, 17 of which were starts. Sanchez was a non factor in 2007 as he was out from June on after undergoing right shoulder surgery that kept him out until mid August of 2008. Sanchez was limited to 10 starts in 2008.

Normally when a team so blatantly exercises control over a player, treating them more as a commodity than a human being, there is cause for uproar. All too often we see players who sign big contracts that have stipulations preventing them from living a life outside of their sport. Restrictions are put in place to prevent their participation in activities that could sideline them from their sport and make them useless to their team. This time however, the Marlins are acting based upon a history of injury to Sanchez’ right shoulder. It should be noted, Sanchez has not complained about the team’s move and seemingly agrees that the Marlins 2009 season should be more important than the WBC right now.