Ongoing controversy surrounding the World Baseball Classic’s player insurance policy may result in some last-minute changes to rosters.<\/p>\n
On Saturday morning, after Puerto Rico captain Francisco Lindor withdrew<\/a> from the WBC after being declined insurance coverage, Puerto Rico Baseball Federation president Dr. Jos\u00e9 Quiles offered a harsh rebuke of the tournament’s participation requirements. Dr. Quiles suggested that the insurance problems are disproportionately affecting Puerto Rico and that his nation, which is hosting Pool A at San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, may withdraw from the WBC entirely.<\/p>\n “We are considering not participating in this edition (of the WBC). It’s a discussion we’ve already had,” Quiles told Puerto Rican journalist Jay Fonseca<\/a> in Spanish, as translated by WBC reporter Shawn Spradling<\/a>. “If we are not playing under equal conditions, we will not participate. It’s a decision that is almost made. We are issuing a warning. We’ll see what happens in the coming days, and we will make a final decision.”<\/p>\n Puerto Rico’s threat may have already spurred some change, as it could result in MLB approving additional players who were previously denied, a source told Tim Healey of the Boston Globe<\/a>.<\/p>\n Puerto Rico also worked with WBC president Jim Small to issue a request for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to reconsider the cases of several of its players, according to El Nuevo D\u00eda’s Carlos Rosa<\/a>, as translated by Spradling. A meeting was held Saturday to discuss the insurance issues.<\/p>\n In response to the criticisms, a WBC spokesperson told Spradling<\/a>, “The vetting process on player eligibility for all WBC teams is currently ongoing.”<\/p>\n Here is how WBC insurance works, at least the best I understand it.<\/p>\n It all boils down to \u201cguaranteed salaries\u201d:<\/p>\n To play in the World Baseball Classic, a player on a Major League 40-man roster must be covered by insurance to guarantee their salary. <\/p>\n The insurer for the WBC is\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) January 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Lindor was denied insurance because he underwent elbow surgery in October, shortly after the New York Mets’ season ended. While he withdrew from the WBC, the 32-year-old said in a statement Friday that he’ll be a full participant at Mets spring training.<\/p>\n But Lindor was far from the only player affected. Eight members<\/a> of Puerto Rico’s roster – including Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, and Jovani Mor\u00e1n, among others – also withdrew from the WBC for various reasons, including insurance issues. Venezuela lost second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Miguel Rojas due to a lack of insurance; Altuve’s team, the Houston Astros, reportedly requested that he skip the tournament.<\/p>\n Rojas, 36, was denied insurance for the tournament because of his age, a source told Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic<\/a>. The decision left him incensed ahead of what’s likely his final big-league season, and last chance to play for his country.<\/p>\n “I don’t see that happening with the United States or happening with Japan,” he told Jack Harris of the California Post<\/a> on Saturday at DodgerFest. “And I’m not trying to attack anybody or attack what’s going on. … But if I can still play in the big leagues for the Dodgers, why am I not going to play for my team in Venezuela and represent my country?”<\/p>\n Full World Baseball Classic rosters will be announced Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. ET, two days after the submission deadline.<\/p>\n