Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM 0 The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament. No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn't secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan.
- - Puerto Rico considers pulling out of WBC after insurance keeps stars off team
Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY January 31, 2026 at 10:21 PM
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The World Baseball Classic will be without several of its top stars because they have been unable to acquire insurance coverage in case they are injured during the tournament.
No team has been hit harder than Puerto Rico, which couldn't secure insurance coverage for several of its biggest names in Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Berrios and Emilio Pagan.
Puerto Rican officials are so frustrated that they have considered pulling out of the WBC, federation president José Quiles revealed.
The Major League Baseball Players Association said that Lindor is unable to play in the WBC because of an elbow procedure early in the offseason, although he will be fine to participate in spring training for the New York Mets.
"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."
Francisco Lindor and Jose Altuve in 2025.
Houston Astros All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve was also denied insurance and won't be able to play for Venezuela in the WBC.
"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," the MLBPA said in a statement.
Venezuela will also be without Dodgers World Series hero Miguel Rojas, who announced on his Instagram account that he was also denied insurance.
"Today I am very sad," he wrote in Spanish. "A true shame I can't represent my country and put that flag on my chest."
$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
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$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
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" src=https://ift.tt/IW2LOaV class=caas-img>$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)
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$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)
">$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)
" src=https://ift.tt/xRvQKLH class=caas-img>$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)
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$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)
">$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)
" src=https://ift.tt/AwE5X8C class=caas-img>$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension
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$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension
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" src=https://ift.tt/Ps6ADhy class=caas-img>$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)
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$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
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" src=https://ift.tt/kL97CRQ class=caas-img>$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)
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$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)
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" src=https://ift.tt/wmeA357 class=caas-img>$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)
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$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)
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" src=https://ift.tt/eYphaSn class=caas-img>$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)
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$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)
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" src=https://ift.tt/dnvC10Z class=caas-img>$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017
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$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017
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" src=https://ift.tt/KpvY2zR class=caas-img>$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)
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" src=https://ift.tt/oM2AUtD class=caas-img>$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)
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$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)
">$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)
" src=https://ift.tt/ARDhnYM class=caas-img>$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025
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$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025
">$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025
" src=https://ift.tt/eVYhq4M class=caas-img>$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)
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$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)
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" src=https://ift.tt/1zZHr5g class=caas-img>$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension
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$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension
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" src=https://ift.tt/zuHi0N7 class=caas-img>$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)
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$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)
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" src=https://ift.tt/H0SkrlR class=caas-img>$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
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$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
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" src=https://ift.tt/Mf0I92g class=caas-img>$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)
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$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)
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" src=https://ift.tt/3WhDHdl class=caas-img>$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026
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$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026
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" src=https://ift.tt/QvYLh0o class=caas-img>$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)
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" src=https://ift.tt/f428cwh class=caas-img>$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)
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" src=https://ift.tt/BUkYG0j class=caas-img>$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)
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$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)
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" src=https://ift.tt/tmNO0xJ class=caas-img>$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)
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$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)
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" src=https://ift.tt/4NeQzTS class=caas-img>$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019
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$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019
">$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019
" src=https://ift.tt/kNObRhm class=caas-img>$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)
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$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)
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$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020
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$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020
">$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020
" src=https://ift.tt/kEXSGZ1 class=caas-img>$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)
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$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)
">$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)
" src=https://ift.tt/nAfxSJ4 class=caas-img>$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)
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$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)
">$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)
" src=https://ift.tt/lX8vBLu class=caas-img>$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013
" data-src=https://ift.tt/g1Ek9NP class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013
">$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013
" src=https://ift.tt/g1Ek9NP class=caas-img>$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)
" data-src=https://ift.tt/yGLWZtU class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)
">$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)
" src=https://ift.tt/yGLWZtU class=caas-img>$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)
" data-src=https://ift.tt/buWXIeM class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)
">$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)
" src=https://ift.tt/buWXIeM class=caas-img>$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)
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$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)
">$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)
" src=https://ift.tt/lwsnMAc class=caas-img>$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)
" data-src=https://ift.tt/FGqCUpD class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)
">$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)
" src=https://ift.tt/FGqCUpD class=caas-img>$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019
" data-src=https://ift.tt/buNjxQr class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019
">$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019
" src=https://ift.tt/buNjxQr class=caas-img>
$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025
" data-src=https://ift.tt/XopbBes class=caas-img data-headline="MLB's $200+ million contracts" data-caption="
$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025
">$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025
" src=https://ift.tt/XopbBes class=caas-img>
1 / 39MLB's $200+ million contracts
$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
The inability to secure insurance kept three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw from participating in the WBC in 2023 because of his back issues. Now that he's retired, there's no need for insurance and he'll be on this year's USA team.
MLB requires all players on their 40-man roster to have an insurance policy that protects the team if a player sustains and injury during the WBC that requires them to miss games during the regular season. Most of the insurance issues are over a player's prior injury history.
Players like Edwin Diaz and Altuve who were injured in the 2023 WBC were covered by insurance policies, and were still paid, but not by the team.
Diaz missed the entire 2023 season when he suffered a complete patellar tendon tear in his right knee celebrating Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic. Altuve suffered a broken right thumb when he was hit by a pitch from Team USA pitcher Daniel Bard. He missed the first 43 games of the 2023 season.
There have been no publicly known cases of any player this year who were prevented from joining Team USA because of an inability to acquire insurance.
Yet, perhaps no one in the tournament is taking a bigger financial risk than two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers. He's a free agent after the season and is expected to secure the largest contract by a pitcher in MLB history, perhaps exceeding $400 million.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Baseball Classic 2026 insurance won't let Francisco Lindor play
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: January 31, 2026 at 09:27PM on Source: MAXIMUS MAG
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