Updated Jan. 31, 2026, 1:45 p.m. ET
World Baseball Classic Roster Hit by Insurance Roadblocks
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Key players are sidelined as teams grapple with coverage for potential injuries during the tournament.
- The World Baseball Classic faces participation challenges as several star players are unable to secure injury insurance.
- Puerto Rico’s team is particularly affected, potentially considering withdrawing from the tournament.
- MLB rules require insurance for players on the 40-man roster to protect teams from injury-related absences during the regular season.
- The financial risk is especially high for players like Tarik Skubal, who are nearing free agency and potentially massive contracts.
The World Baseball Classic is already dealing with a significant blow before it even begins: several of its most recognizable names will be absent due to difficulties obtaining insurance coverage. The complex issue centers around protecting Major League Baseball teams should a player suffer an injury during the tournament that sidelines them during the regular season.
Puerto Rico Faces Potential Withdrawal
No nation is feeling the impact more acutely than Puerto Rico. According to federation president José Quiles, the team couldn’t secure insurance for several of its biggest stars, including Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios, and Emilio Pagan. The frustration is so intense that Puerto Rican officials have even contemplated withdrawing from the WBC altogether.
Lindor, Altuve Among Those Sidelined
The Major League Baseball Players Association confirmed that New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is ineligible to participate due to an elbow procedure earlier in the offseason, though he is expected to be fully ready for spring training. “Francisco is obviously disappointed that he was be unable to participate,” the MLBPA said in a statement. “However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games. He was participate fully in all spring training activities.”
Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve is also unable to play for Venezuela due to insurance denials. The MLBPA stated, “Due to the criteria for WBC insurance coverage, Jose Altuve was looking forward to participating in the WBC and representing Venezuela, but unfortunately is not eligible to do so.” Venezuela will also be without Dodgers World Series hero Miguel Rojas, who announced on his Instagram account that he too was denied insurance, expressing his sadness at being unable to represent his country.
Insurance Requirements and Past Incidents
MLB mandates that all players on a team’s 40-man roster have an insurance policy to protect the club if a player sustains an injury during the WBC that causes them to miss regular-season games. The majority of insurance issues stem from a player’s pre-existing injury history. This isn’t a new problem; the inability to secure insurance prevented three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw from participating in the 2023 WBC due to his back issues. Now retired, Kershaw is set to join Team USA this year without those insurance concerns.
Players like Edwin Diaz and Altuve, who were injured during the 2023 WBC, were covered by existing insurance policies, and continued to receive payment, though not from their respective teams. Diaz missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic. Altuve suffered a broken right thumb after being hit by a pitch from Team USA’s Daniel Bard, sidelining him for the first 43 games of the season.
There have been no reported instances of players being prevented from joining Team USA this year due to insurance issues. However, Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner, faces a particularly significant financial risk. As a free agent after the season, he is projected to secure the largest contract for a pitcher in MLB history, potentially exceeding $400 million.
