Easily the biggest surprise in the Yankees organization, and one of the biggest in all of baseball in 2008, Alfredo Aceves, will not be participating in this year’s World Baseball Classic.

Aceves, who hails from Mexico, told MLB.com that he won’t be playing for Mexico’s entry in the WBC. Aceves, who was a member of the Mexican’s team’s provisional roster, decided against playing on the team because he hopes to secure a spot in the Yankees bullpen as a long reliever/spot starter instead.