Bad Bunny's reported insurance payments for Lindor and Correa couldn't overcome team denials, sidelining stars from the WBC.
The World Baseball Classic is just one month away, and the rosters for all 20 teams have been released in preparation. Puerto Rico’s roster, however, is missing some huge names due to an off-the-field issue that’s keeping some of its star players at home during the tournament.
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Houston Astros infielder Carlos Correa are among the names missing for Puerto Rico ahead of the WBC, with the Associated Press reporting that their absence stems from a lack of insurance coverage.
"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," read the statement by the MLB Players’ Association on Lindor's behalf. "He will participate fully in all Spring Training activities.”
Lindor’s absence is a big blow to Puerto Rico, which lost to Mexico in the quarterfinals in 2023. Another layer to the story has been added, however, as a Puerto Rican radio personality, Carlos Baerga reported on Saturday that singer Bad Bunny had actually paid for Lindor’s and Correas insurances, but the reason they won’t be participating in the tournament is that their respective teams did not permit them.
The surprising claim came just a day before Bad Bunny performs at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara, California, and the same week he won three Grammy Awards. Perhaps the most recognizable Puerto Rican name at the moment, Bad Bunny, reportedly did everything he could to see his country field the best team in the WBC. Still, it came down to the Mets and the Astros saying now.
It isn’t Bad Bunny’s first interaction with the sports side of the media; he was one of the founders of Rimas Sports, an agency focused on Latin American athletes such as baseball superstars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Though it will be sad for Mets fans to not be able to watch Lindor play in one of baseball’s most exciting tournaments, it makes sense why New York reportedly didn’t give the green light. In the 2023 tournament, they watched their closer at the time, Edwin Diaz, suffer a torn patellar tendon while celebrating. That injury caused Diaz to miss the entire 2023 season.
Lindor had surgery on his elbow back in October, and the Mets are taking the safe route with their star infielder. Still, Mets fans will have plenty of faces to root for in this year's tournament. Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, and Clay Holmes are among the Mets who were named to WBC rosters this week. The tournament starts on March 5 with games being played in Japan, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Houston, and Miami.