Insurance issues continue to plague the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The failure to obtain coverage has cost several key players the opportunity to participate in the tournament. The problem is so rampant that Team Puerto Rico might pull out of the event altogether. One of the most outspoken players affected by the insurance woes has been Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas.
The 36-year-old Rojas was unable to obtain coverage to play for Team Venezuela due to his age. He’ll turn 37 next month. As Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported, the insurance policy no longer covers players who are 37 or older. This is a change from previous years.
Rojas appeared on the Foul Territory show to discuss the situation. He pointed to a lack of communication and a failure of timing as the main sources of the problem. “We didn’t have the form that we have to fill out until two weeks prior to today,” Rojas said. “If that was going to be an issue, they should’ve let us know in advance.”
Rojas added that the players’ union was supportive in finding an alternative insurance, but there wasn’t enough time to do so. He also suggested he wasn’t aware of the new age stipulation regarding coverage.
Major Injuries Impact WBC Insurance Policy
The Shohei Ohtani versus Mike Trout showdown in the final at-bat of the championship was the main highlight of the 2023 iteration of the event, but two injuries from that tournament have marred the upcoming one. Edwin Diaz of Team Puerto Rico suffered a patellar tendon tear in his right knee while celebrating a win over Team Dominican Republic. Jose Altuve of Team Venezuela was hit by a pitch and broke his thumb.
Drellich and Rosenthal’s report mentioned that those unfortunate injuries led to the insurance costs rising considerably. The approval process also became more stringent. Diaz missed the entire 2023 MLB season while recovering from his major knee injury. Altuve was sidelined for the first month and a half of the campaign.
Even if Rojas and other players affected by the new coverage rules were informed in time to do something about it, another option might not have been available. In his own appearance on Foul Territory, Drellich said there was no alternative to the current insurance provider. “It wasn’t like they were choosing between different options.” He added that representatives balked at paying more for a policy that would cover a larger swath of players.
Rojas Among Several Notable Names Missing from the Tournament
Rojas, who made headlines for his game-tying home run in Game 7 of the World Series, will likely be watching the WBC from his couch. He’ll be joined by a host of other top players. Team Puerto Rico captain Francisco Lindor did not receive clearance. Carlos Correa and José Berríos met the same fate. Diaz is still waiting to find out his status.
Players can still participate in the WBC even if they don’t receive insurance coverage, though they’d need permission from their MLB teams. As Drellich and Rosenthal pointed out, the Detroit Tigers allowed Miguel Cabrera to play in 2023 without coverage, while the Dodgers halted Clayton Kershaw from participating.
Dodgers World Series Star Places Blame for WBC Insurance Issues