Ongoing controversy surrounding the World Baseball Classic’s player insurance policy may result in some last-minute changes to rosters.
On Saturday morning, after Puerto Rico captain Francisco Lindor withdrew from the WBC after being declined insurance coverage, Puerto Rico Baseball Federation president Dr. José Quiles offered a harsh rebuke of the tournament’s participation requirements. Dr. Quiles suggested that the insurance problems are disproportionately affecting Puerto Rico and that his nation, which is hosting Pool A at San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium, may withdraw from the WBC entirely.
“We are considering not participating in this edition (of the WBC). It’s a discussion we’ve already had,” Quiles told Puerto Rican journalist Jay Fonseca in Spanish, as translated by WBC reporter Shawn Spradling. “If we are not playing under equal conditions, we will not participate. It’s a decision that is almost made. We are issuing a warning. We’ll see what happens in the coming days, and we will make a final decision.”