Insurance Complications Exclude Certain Players from World Baseball Classic Rosters

Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Jose Altuve have been notably absent from their respective countries’ rosters for the World Baseball Classic, primarily due to complications surrounding insurance coverage.

Both Lindor and Correa were omitted from Puerto Rico’s roster, while Altuve was excluded from Venezuela’s lineup for similar reasons. This year’s tournament is set to take place from March 5-17 across various locations, including Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be held for the second consecutive time. A total of 78 Major League Baseball all-stars, including 36 from the previous year, are featured on the 30-man rosters of the 20 teams competing in the WBC.

The insurance issues affecting Puerto Rico’s roster stem from the tournament’s co-ownership by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, with insurance brokered by National Financial Partners (NFP). According to a source familiar with the policy, the insurance guidelines stipulate a cutoff for position players with major or minor league contracts whose second guaranteed year coincides with the season in which they turn 37. For pitchers, the cutoff is set for those whose fourth guaranteed year aligns with their 37th birthday. Additionally, players who underwent offseason surgeries are also subject to review by the insurer.

These insurance considerations could also pose challenges for major league players who may be eligible for the 2028 Olympics.

Lindor, a 32-year-old shortstop with a staggering $341 million contract with the New York Mets through 2031, underwent a right elbow debridement procedure after last season. Correa, a 31-year-old shortstop and third baseman for the Houston Astros, has a $200 million contract extending through 2028. He previously had surgery in 2014 to repair a broken right tibia, and both the San Francisco Giants and the Mets were unable to approve his physicals during the 2022-23 offseason.

In another notable case, Javy Báez, a 33-year-old infielder and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, tested positive for marijuana on March 12, 2023, which disqualified him from participating in this WBC. The International Testing Agency confirmed that his suspension for international competition will last until April 25. It’s worth noting that marijuana was removed from Major League Baseball’s testing agreement with the players’ association prior to the 2020 season and is no longer subject to disciplinary action by MLB.

Altuve, who broke his right thumb after being hit by a pitch during the 2023 tournament, is set to miss the Astros’ first 43 games. He also underwent a medical procedure on his foot last November.

Other notable absences include Clayton Kershaw and Miguel Cabrera, both of whom missed the 2023 tournament due to insurance complications. Kershaw, who will turn 38 just two days after this year’s final, is the oldest player on the U.S. roster but has retired from major league play and does not have a contract for 2026.

On a more positive note, Edwin Díaz will be returning to Puerto Rico after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a victory over the Dominican Republic in 2023. This injury sidelined him for the entire season with the New York Mets, and he now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

*Editors Note: The original story was edited to focus on the insurance angle.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, and Jose Altuve have been notably absent from their respective countries’ rosters for the World Baseball Classic, primarily due to complications surrounding insurance coverage.

Both Lindor and Correa were omitted from Puerto Rico’s roster, while Altuve was excluded from Venezuela’s lineup for similar reasons. This year’s tournament is set to take place from March 5-17 across various locations, including Tokyo, Houston, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Miami, where the final will be held for the second consecutive time. A total of 78 Major League Baseball all-stars, including 36 from the previous year, are featured on the 30-man rosters of the 20 teams competing in the WBC.

The insurance issues affecting Puerto Rico’s roster stem from the tournament’s co-ownership by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, with insurance brokered by National Financial Partners (NFP). According to a source familiar with the policy, the insurance guidelines stipulate a cutoff for position players with major or minor league contracts whose second guaranteed year coincides with the season in which they turn 37. For pitchers, the cutoff is set for those whose fourth guaranteed year aligns with their 37th birthday. Additionally, players who underwent offseason surgeries are also subject to review by the insurer.

These insurance considerations could also pose challenges for major league players who may be eligible for the 2028 Olympics.

Lindor, a 32-year-old shortstop with a staggering $341 million contract with the New York Mets through 2031, underwent a right elbow debridement procedure after last season. Correa, a 31-year-old shortstop and third baseman for the Houston Astros, has a $200 million contract extending through 2028. He previously had surgery in 2014 to repair a broken right tibia, and both the San Francisco Giants and the Mets were unable to approve his physicals during the 2022-23 offseason.

In another notable case, Javy Báez, a 33-year-old infielder and outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, tested positive for marijuana on March 12, 2023, which disqualified him from participating in this WBC. The International Testing Agency confirmed that his suspension for international competition will last until April 25. It’s worth noting that marijuana was removed from Major League Baseball’s testing agreement with the players’ association prior to the 2020 season and is no longer subject to disciplinary action by MLB.

Altuve, who broke his right thumb after being hit by a pitch during the 2023 tournament, is set to miss the Astros’ first 43 games. He also underwent a medical procedure on his foot last November.

Other notable absences include Clayton Kershaw and Miguel Cabrera, both of whom missed the 2023 tournament due to insurance complications. Kershaw, who will turn 38 just two days after this year’s final, is the oldest player on the U.S. roster but has retired from major league play and does not have a contract for 2026.

On a more positive note, Edwin Díaz will be returning to Puerto Rico after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a victory over the Dominican Republic in 2023. This injury sidelined him for the entire season with the New York Mets, and he now plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

*Editors Note: The original story was edited to focus on the insurance angle.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.