Report: World Baseball Classic could come to an end after 2017

Get your 2017 World Baseball Classic (WBC) merchandise now, because it might be the last time we see the event in a while. Unless the tournament brings in a significant amount of cash in 2017, there are rumors the whole thing could come to an end, according to Cristian Moreno of ESPN.

The tournament, which pits teams from different countries against each other, was first played in 2006. After a three-year hiatus, the second WBC took place in 2009. From then on, it was set to occur every four years. The competition was created in part to combat baseball being removed from the Olympic games.

Interest in the event has varied in the United States. Some fans love watching international teams go at it, while others only care if their fantasy players are participating. Some big-name players have skipped out on the WBC in recent years, but it still tends to draw a fair amount of star power. Robinson Cano, Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto have all taken part in the contest. That’s just a small sampling. For the most part, talent isn’t the issue here.

The bigger concern is whether people care. The WBC may appeal to an international audience, but fans of Major League Baseball may not have the same interest. While it’s a fun idea, there’s no real prestige involved in winning the event. And since it’s not an Olympic sport, there’s not an overwhelming sense of patriotism surrounding Team USA. It’s just another way to get a baseball fix before spring training. Even then, you’re praying the participants from the MLB team you root for don’t get hurt during the WBC. The MLB regular season is still far more important to people in the United States.

Perhaps because of that, it doesn’t appear the event has brought in a ton of money in recent years. And when that happens, well, changes need to be made.

The 2017 World Baseball Classic is set to begin March 6. The United States will play their first game March 9. The Championship Round is set to take place March 20 through March 22 at Dodger Stadium. A number of high profile MLB players have already committed to participating in the tourney.

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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik