Overview
- Puerto Rico’s federation is weighing a withdrawal after multiple players were denied coverage, with reports listing Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, José Berríos, Emilio Pagán, Jovani Morán, Víctor Caratini, Yacksel Ríos and Alexis Díaz as unavailable.
- The MLBPA said Lindor cannot play due to insurance constraints tied to an October elbow debridement, though he remains cleared to participate fully in spring training.
- José Altuve was also ruled out over insurance criteria, and Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas withdrew for Venezuela after being flagged by underwriters, with age cited as a key concern.
- MLB requires WBC participants on 40-man rosters to be insured against tournament injuries, and underwriters are evaluating age, prior injuries and recent surgeries, echoing precedents from 2023 including Clayton Kershaw’s denial and insured injuries to Edwin Díaz and Altuve.
- The WBC runs March 5–17 as final rosters are set, intensifying scrutiny of how insurance decisions are reshaping teams and the event’s competitive quality.