"Puerto Rico is considering withdrawing from the 2026 World Baseball Classic after the competition's insurance constraints have suddenly sidelined between eight and 10 of its players. New York Mets star shortstop Francisco Lindor is among them despite the expectation that he will be a full go for spring training after undergoing an elbow debridement procedure back in October his second elbow surgery in the last three seasons."
"Due to the cleanup procedure that Francisco Lindor had on his right elbow earlier this offseason, he will not be participating for team Puerto Rico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, a statement from the MLB Players' Association read. Francisco is obviously disappointed that he will be unable to participate. However, because of WBC insurance constraints, he is ineligible to play in WBC games."
Insurance constraints for the World Baseball Classic have rendered between eight and 10 Puerto Rico players ineligible, prompting consideration of withdrawal from the 2026 tournament. Francisco Lindor will not participate after an elbow debridement procedure earlier this offseason, making him ineligible under WBC insurance rules despite expected readiness for spring training. Insurance rates rose sharply after injuries to Edwin Diaz and Jose Altuve in the 2023 Classic, causing National Financial Partners to be far more selective when approving policies. Teams could choose to self-insure denied players, but that option remains unlikely for most clubs. The roster timing and Puerto Rico's smaller talent pool severely undermine competitive prospects and raise questions about insurance selectiveness.
Read at www.amny.com
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