Why Francisco Lindor, Jose Altuve, More MLB Players Can't Play in 2026 World Baseball Classic

New York Mets star Francisco Lindor and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve will not be playing in the 2026 World Baseball Classic because they haven't been able to get their MLB contracts insured in case of injury during the event.

The MLB Players' Association said in a statement on Friday that Lindor was ineligible to play in the event "because of WBC insurance constraints" with respect to a right elbow procedure he under in October.

The MLBPA added that Lindor "will participate fully in all Spring Training activities."

MLB.com's Brian McTaggart originally reported that Altuve had chosen not to participate in the event "at the request of the Astros."

The MLBPA confirmed Altuve's absence from the event in a Friday statement during which they said Altuve was also not eligible for WBC insurance coverage.

In 2023, Altuve missed the beginning of the MLB season after undergoing surgery on a right thumb injury he suffered at the WBC.

Other players, including Astros star Carlos Correa, also won't be participating due to insurance reasons.

Correa previously told The Athletic's Chandler Rome he wouldn't be playing in the event because he'd been told he could lose the entirety of his regular-season salary if injured.

Insurance policies, paid for the WBC and distributed by the company NFP, prevent MLB clubs from having to shoulder the cost of guaranteed contracts if players are injured during the event, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez.

Players have a more difficult time getting insured if NFP decides they have a history of "chronic" injury, per Gonzalez.

Other factors, including age, play a factor. The Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas won't be participating because the WBC won't insure players who are over 37, per Gonzalez.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Evan Drellich reported Saturday that Puerto Rico is considering withdrawing from the 2026 World Baseball Classic after eight of the team's ten players, including Lindor, were denied insurance coverage.

The Boston Globe's Tim Healey reported Saturday that a league source indicated Puerto Rico's threat of withdrawal "could lead to more of its players being approved."

WBC rosters are set to be finalized within the next few days, per Healey. The event is set to kick off on March 5.