Reds reject Cueto bid to play in WBC

The Cincinnati Reds have spoken and Johnny Cueto will not participate in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic.

The 27-year-old Cueto went 19-9 with a 2.78 ERA last year on his way to a fourth-place finish in the NL Cy Young vote. But he finished the season on the disabled list after injuring an oblique muscle in the first game of the National Division League Series.

Bryce Dixon, Cueto's agent, tweeted on Wednesday: Reds exercised right to disallow Cueto's participation in WBC as he finished on DL. Despite his desire to play, he respects their decision.

Final rosters for the WBC were supposed to be submitted on Wednesday.