The 2026 World Baseball Classic is less than a year away, and Team USA has already lined up Mark DeRosa to be its manager and Aaron Judge to be its captain. That's a heck of a way to start a team. Who else should Team USA pursue next year?

Aaron Judge recalls watching from home while Mike Trout led Team USA onto the field in the most recent World Baseball Classic finals, proudly carrying a flagpole flying the stars and stripes across his right shoulder.

Before Team USA manager Mark DeRosa named Aaron Judge captain of his squad for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, he ask Angels veteran Mike Trout for permission to give the Yankees slugger that title. “He’s the one,” Trout told DeRosa.