A world of possibilities.(Closer)

A few weeks from now, the owners will consider a proposal to hold a World Cup tournament that would take place during spring training. Sixteen teams, including ones from Latin America and Asia, would participate.

These games, if played under the right circumstances, could be the best thing for baseball since the wild card. But several things have to be ironed out.

The first is the ugly part: money. I think players would be honored to take part, but let's not kid ourselves: A guy isn't going to risk injury just for a trophy--ask USA Basketball. And the owners aren't going to let their superstars compete without first having an insurance policy.

Then there's the fatigue factor. The World Cup would begin in February and continue through late March. Players who take part would be playing longer in the spring, increasing the risk of injury or a letdown at the start of the season. The risk would be even greater for someone who played in the postseason the previous fall. Guys train year-round, but they could wear out if they don't get a chance to heal in the winter. Plus, if a player goes deep into the tournament, he'll have about 10 days to get acclimated to his major league club.

But if these issues can be resolved, what a concept a World Cup ...