I think this is a great idea, but am obviously coming from a different point of view, being an international. Every other major international sport has a World Cup/Championship, I don't see why baseball shouldn't either. I think the players will relish the chance to represent their country. You only have to look at the HR Derby yesterday to see how crazy the Venezuelans were going for Abreu. Rugby Union has only recently started having a World Cup (1987 was the first, is now held every 4 years), and it is now regarded as the biggest event in a player's career. Cricket is much the same, although the World Cup started about 10-15 years earlier.