Giavotella, Descalso to join Italy for Classic
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Infielders Daniel Descalso and Johnny Giavotella will play for Italy in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, a source told MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi on Monday.
Team Italy begins Classic play in Pool D on March 9 against host Mexico, with games against Venezuela and Puerto Rico to follow.
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Descalso, now a free agent, batted .264/.349/.424 with eight homers and 38 RBIs in 99 games for the Rockies last season. The 30-year-old utility player and seven-year Major League veteran had been with Colorado since 2015.
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The 29-year-old Giavotella played 99 games for the Angels in '16, his second year in Anaheim and sixth in the big leagues. The second baseman hit .260/.287/.376 with six home runs and 31 RBIs.
Descalso and Giavotella, neither of whom played for Italy in the three previous Classics, join Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli, Royals catcher Drew Butera and Indians Minor League first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello on the roster.