updated 5:37 p.m. ET Feb. 14, 2006

While skiers and skaters get their moments to shine in the snow and ice, baseball players head for the sun.

Wednesday is the day fans have been waiting for since October: Pitchers and catchers report!

Spring training will have a new twist this year, with Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and many major league stars leaving their teams for the first World Baseball Classic. The 16-team tournament runs from March 3-20 and will give the sport something it’s never had — a true world champion.

“It’s an opportunity to try and expand the game globally,” said Yankees captain Derek Jeter, who plans to play for the United States. “I think there’s going to be a lot of interest, especially in some of the countries that haven’t come over to play before. I think it’s great for the game.”

There have been a lot of changes since Oct. 26, when the Chicago White Sox won 1-0 in Houston to complete a sweep for their first World Series title since 1917. In addition to all the personnel moves, players and owners agreed to another toughened steroids plan, one that boosts the initial suspension for a positive test from 10 days to 50 games.

Twelve players were nabbed last year, with Rafael Palmeiro the most prominent. He still doesn’t have a job for this year, and it’s unclear whether he’ll retire.

Sammy Sosa also doesn’t have a team yet — he’s thinking over the Washington Nationals’ offer.

Barry Bonds, baseball’s biggest bopper, hopes to start the season on time this year after missing the first five months of last season recovering from knee surgery. The 41-year-old needs seven homers to pass Babe Ruth and 48 to break Hank Aaron’s career mark of 755.

As for the teams, Toronto made the splashiest signings, giving pitcher A.J. Burnett a $55 million contract and closer B.J. Ryan $47 million. The Blue Jays, trying to overcome the Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the AL East, also signed catcher Bengie Molina and acquired third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay in trades.

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“We had a productive offseason but it only turns into a successful offseason if we have a good season,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “It’s exciting, we’ll see how it plays out. We haven’t done anything but sign good players and trade for good players, and it doesn’t mean we’re guaranteed anything.”

The New York Mets also made big moves for the second straight offseason under GM Omar Minaya, signing closer Billy Wagner for $43 million and acquiring first baseman Carlos Delgado, whom they failed to sign a year earlier.

Atlanta has won 14 straight division titles and Philadelphia, which replaced Wagner with Tom Gordon, finished right behind the Braves in the NL East last year.

“Right now we’ve got the edge. All we have to do is go out there and play, and play how we know how to play,” Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd said. “I think it should be a real fun season.”

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New Phillies GM Pat Gillick sent Jim Thome to the White Sox in a deal that brought center fielder Aaron Rowand to the Phillies. Chicago re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko ($60 million), let go of designated hitter Frank Thomas and acquired pitcher Javier Vazquez from Arizona.

Just like the Red Sox last winter, the White Sox learned that winning a title ramps up their profile.

“People come up to me now and say stuff to me,” catcher A.J. Pierzynski related. “One saving grace I had is that I hang out with Johnny Damon a lot, so any time I go anywhere with him, no one cares about me. So I try to hang out with him as much as possible.”

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