The Associated Press

NEW YORK: Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants and Hank Blalock of the Texas Rangers were added to next week's All-Star Home Run Derby, filling out the field of eight competitors.

Bonds joins Philadelphia's Jim Thome, the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. and the Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa in representing the National League on Monday night in Houston.

The American League players participating are Blalock, New York's Jason Giambi, Boston's David Ortiz and Baltimore's Rafael Palmeiro.

Also on Thursday, New York Yankees pitcher Javier Vazquez and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Paul Lo Duca were added to the All-Star teams as replacements for injured players.

Vazquez takes the spot of Oakland Athletics right-hander Tim Hudson, giving New York eight players on the 32-man AL squad. Lo Duca is subbing for the Reds' Sean Casey.

WORLD CUP: Japan's owners rejected a plan to hold the first baseball World Cup in the United States next year.

The owners do not want major league baseball in charge of the event and would prefer the International Baseball Federation, an official in the Japanese commissioner's office, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Thursday.

That could leave major-league All-Stars such as Hideki Matsui of the New York Yankees and Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners without a chance to play for their country in the World Cup.

However, another official in the Japanese commissioner's office, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Japan might still be interested in participating if the event is structured differently.

"We, obviously, want to talk with them and address whatever their concerns might be," Gene Orza, the general counsel of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said in New York.

"They are a fundamental part of the concept of international play so, obviously, we have to talk with them and perhaps do some explaining to them. I am hopeful we can get this back on the right track."

ORIOLES: Baltimore recalled infielder Jose Leon from Triple-A Ottawa, replacing right-hander Rick Bauer on the 25-man roster.

YANKEES: New York purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Juan Padilla and recalled right-hander Sam Marsonek from Columbus of the International League.

The team also optioned pitchers Brad Halsey and Bret Prinz to its Triple-A farm club.

DEVIL RAYS: The Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up left-handed pitcher Bobby Seay from Triple-A Durham on Thursday and optioned right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez to the same club.