US EditionLindor, Correa, Báez left off Puerto Rico's WBC roster over insurance coverage
Puerto Rico's WBC roster excludes three players due to insurer National Financial Partners denying coverage for medical history and contract conditions.
- Team Puerto Rico omitted Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javy Báez after National Financial Partners declined coverage for the March 5-17 2026 World Baseball Classic.
- Because Lindor had a postseason elbow procedure and Correa has prior surgeries, insurer reviews prompted roster exclusions, with policies citing contract-year and age cutoffs, a person familiar with the policy said.
- Báez's positive test on March 12, 2023 and a WBSC suspension bar him from the WBC, with the International Testing Agency confirming his suspension runs through April 25, 2026, despite MLB and MLBPA efforts to clear him.
- Puerto Rico's 2017 and 2023 results raise stakes for the March 5-17 tournament, with insurance issues potentially affecting Olympic eligibility and future competitions.
- Correa's $200 million contract and Báez's $140 million deal increase insurer exposure for international play, while past absences like Clayton Kershaw and Miguel Cabrera show ongoing insurance issues for the WBC.
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28 Articles
Javier Baez suspended from 2026 WBC over marijuana use in latest blow for Puerto Rico
Baez, who was originally trying to play for Team Puerto Rico in this year's tournament, was ultimately deemed ineligible due to his previous marijuana use, The Athletic reported on Thursday.
Tigers Shortstop Barred From 2026 World Baseball Classic
Puerto Rico’s unraveling relationship with the World Baseball Classic took another stunning turn this week, as Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez was officially ruled ineligible to participate in the 2026 tournament—not because of injury or insurance, but due to marijuana use during the 2023 WBC.According to reporting by The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen, Báez tested positive for marijuana during the 2023 Classic, triggering a two-year ban from …
Former Chicago Cub Javier Báez among players left off Puerto Rico WBC roster over insurance coverage
Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Javy Báez, a member of the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series champion team, were left off Puerto Rico's roster for the World Baseball Classic over insurance coverage.
The president of the Puerto Rico Baseball Federation (FBPR), José Quiles Rosas, presented the roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, scheduled to begin on March 6 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Francisco.
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