There’s a possibility that one country might withdraw from the World Baseball Classic due to insurance issues affecting its players.
On Saturday, officials from Team Puerto Rico shared that they might pull out of the tournament after finding out that eight out of ten of their players were not cleared for interviews. This information came from a report by The Athletic.
“That option is definitely on the table,” said Joey Sola, the team’s operations manager, as quoted by The Athletic. “It really depends on whether we can find a replacement player.”
For Mets fans, the absence of captain Francisco Lindor is notable, as he was one of the big names forced to step back from the tournament. He opted out due to the fact that he has had two surgeries on his right elbow over the last three seasons. Fortunately, he’s expected to be ready for spring training.
The issues with insurance largely stem from the injuries athletes faced during the 2023 WBC. Mets fans likely remember Edwin Diaz, who now plays for the Dodgers, suffering a serious knee injury during that tournament, which sidelined him for the entire season.
Additionally, Jose Altuve endured a broken thumb this year and encountered months of recovery.
Because of these injuries, insurance premiums for major leaguers have skyrocketed, prompting stricter regulations from insurance companies regarding player approvals, according to a reporter from The Athletic.
Aside from Lindor, other prominent Puerto Rican players not cleared for play include Astros’ Carlos Correa, Blue Jays’ Jose Berrios, and Twins’ Victor Caratini. However, Sola mentioned that the status of Correa, Berrios, and others is currently under review.
The team is worried that if these decisions aren’t reversed, they won’t have enough players to form a competitive lineup.
Puerto Rico is set to host the first round of the WBC in San Juan from March 6 to 11, so it would be quite unfortunate if they couldn’t field a team. They’re in a pool with Canada, Colombia, Cuba, and Panama.
MLB has not commented on the situation, as many player statuses are yet to be determined. National Financial Partners, which arranged the insurance policy, also hasn’t replied to requests for comment, according to The Athletic.
Both Major League Baseball and the players’ union, who co-manage the tournament, are advocating for changes to some of these decisions before the registration deadline on Tuesday.
An announcement is anticipated on Thursday.
