Report: Rangers will submit forms objecting to player participation in WBC

The Texas Rangers will reportedly submit forms by Friday that would give them the authority to prevent three of their superstars from playing in the World Baseball Classic.

Yu Darvish (Japan), Elvis Andrus (Venezuela), and Shin-Soo Choo (Korea) all fall under the criteria regarding injuries and risk, though the WBC has the final call.

"It's the intensity level earlier than a lot of these guys are used to, especially coming off a longer season," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "There's no data to suggest it's any more dangerous. We're just protective. This guy is meaningful to our fortunes this season."

Rangers catcher Robinson Chirinos, who broke his arm in April, falls under the same criteria, but the team apparently isn't concerned about his health.

There is, however, concern about left-hander Martin Perez pitching in the WBC, Daniels added. While the Rangers can't forbid him from joining the Venezuelan team, they nixed his idea of pitching in Winter League after logging a career-high 198 2/3 innings in his first full season after Tommy John surgery.