Giavotella, Descalso to join Italy for Classic

January 10th, 2017

Infielders and 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.

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 , Royals catcher and Indians Minor League first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello on the roster.