Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas withdraws from WBC because of insurance problems

Miguel Rojas Withdraws from World Baseball Classic

As he approaches the final season of his MLB career, Miguel Rojas will not be competing for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, citing insurance complications, officials confirmed.

On Thursday, Rojas shared his decision on Instagram, announcing that he would not participate in the international tournament held every three years.

“I’m so sad today,” he expressed in Spanish, accompanied by a photo of himself with a Venezuelan flag draped over his shoulder. “It’s a real shame that I can’t represent my country and carry that flag on my chest.”

The 37-year-old is one of several players reportedly facing similar insurance issues with their MLB contracts, which may leave them unprotected in case of injuries during the tournament. This restriction had previously kept stars like Clayton Kershaw from participating in the last WBC in 2023.

Without proper insurance—or, in rare cases, a specific agreement with their MLB team—players may not have a guaranteed contract if they’re sidelined during the regular season due to injuries incurred while representing their countries.

Typically, such issues arise from concerns related to a player’s injury history. Rojas has battled hernia, forearm, and intercostal problems over the past two years. His age, as noted by El Extrabase and reflected in his own posts, also plays a role in this situation.

“On this occasion, age was more than just a number,” Rojas noted.

A veteran of 12 seasons in the major leagues, Rojas played a pivotal role in the Dodgers’ recent consecutive World Series victories but has never participated in the WBC before.

Initially part of the 2023 Venezuela team, he had to withdraw just before the tournament when Gavin Lux tore his ACL during spring training, which led to him starting for the Dodgers. The team had just reacquired him from the Miami Marlins prior to that season.

“This is not an easy decision for me,” Rojas mentioned, reflecting on his commitment to the WBC and his home country. “Obviously the WBC and my country and being part of that team has always been a priority for me and something I really value in my career. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my career and an experience like no other.”

Currently, Rojas has re-signed with the Dodgers as a free agent and intends to take on a player development role in the organization after retiring, but that opportunity will have to wait until the conclusion of his playing days.

With Rojas stepping away from the WBC, the Dodgers now have three confirmed players: Will Smith representing Team USA, and Shohei Otani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto from Team Japan.