Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas is heading into his final major league season and might have started things off by representing Venezuela in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. But like a number of players, Rojas was denied insurance coverage to be able to play in the international tournament this March.
Rojas expressed frustration at the process in talking to reporters Saturday at Dodgers Fest at Dodger Stadium over the process. From Alden González at ESPN:
“My only question is: Why is it just with our countries [in Latin America], like Venezuela, Puerto Rico, a couple Dominican players?” Rojas said. “I don’t see that happening with the United States or happening with Japan. And I’m not trying to attack anybody, or attack what’s going on … but at the end of the day, it feels like it’s just happening with the players that want to represent their country from Latin America. So, there’s a lot of things I would like to talk about with someone in control, with someone from MLB.”
On Friday, Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor was also denied insurance to play for Puerto Rico in the WBC after offseason right elbow surgery, despite being cleared for spring training activity. Same for Astros star Jose Altuve, who won’t play for Venezuela.
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“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 MLB Players Association said in a statement. “Jose is obviously disappointed in this result, but he is looking forward to getting to spring training and preparing himself for a successful season.”
Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich at The Athletic on Saturday outlined various details of National Financial Partners, who brokers insurance for the World Baseball Classic:
The insurance policy pays back the major-league club for a player’s salary if the player gets hurt during the WBC. Players are not at risk of losing their salaries. For approved position players, the insurance covers 100 percent of their salary for two years, sources said. For pitchers, it’s four years.
No cap exists for how much salary can be covered in total across MLB, a source said, emphasizing there is not a game of musical chairs in which one player’s insurance approval could reduce the chances of another’s.
Trips to the 60-day injured list and recent surgeries such as Lindor’s are typically disqualifying. But the insurer reviews each player’s injury history case by case.
Relevant to Rojas, who turns 37 in February, again from The Athletic:
The insurance does not cover players once they are 37, a difference from previous WBCs, sources said. That will affect some players who are close to 37, as well. Major-leaguers are likely to be denied if they turn 37 in the two-year window for position players or the four-year window for pitchers.
Probably the most notable Dodgers instance of this was with Clayton Kershaw, who in 2023 was named to the United States roster for the WBC but was denied insurance at nearly age 35, within the window of being denied insurance. Kershaw will be a part of the 2026 roster for Team USA, partly because as a retired player, there is no MLB salary to insure.
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Freddie Freeman, 36 this year, also won’t play for Canada in the World Baseball Classic after participating in the tournament in both 2027 and 2023, though he said Saturday it was his choice.
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki missed over four months on the 60-day injured list last season with a right shoulder impingement. He was unlikely to be approved for insurance per the above criteria, and told David Vassegh of KLAC AM 570 on Saturday that it was the Dodgers’ decision that Sasaki wouldn’t pitch for Japan in the WBC.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and will be joined by Shohei Ohtani, who will hit but won’t pitch during the tournament. Rosenthal and Drellich reported that Ohtani “was unlikely to be cleared to pitch, people briefed on the underwriting process said.”
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Pool play for the World Baseball Classic starts on March 5. Players for Japan are expected to join the team in Tokyo for exhibition games on February 27-28 in preparation for the tournament.
