Realistically, that’s probably a good thing for both the players and the Houston Astros.
Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve will not participate in this year’s World Baseball Classic, despite both players wanting to represent their home teams again. Correa has previously played for Puerto Rico and Altuve has previously played for Venezuela.
Their absence is not one they planned on, but rather one of economics.
MLB hires an outside insurance company to insure any players who participate in the WBC against injury. This insurance company deemed both players uninsurable, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic.
Correa has a notable injury history, and Altuve’s recent injury history coupled with age are the most likely factors in the decision.
Both players are expected to be key cogs in the lineup for the Astros in 2026, and getting off to a good start would be paramount for both them and the organization. For a team that missed
In the 2023 WBC, Altuve was hit by a pitch that fractured his thumb and caused him to miss the first 43 games of the 2023 season.
Both players would be at risk of losing salary if they were to be injured in the WBC and miss MLB games as a result.
The Astros want all their players to be focused on being healthy and productive for the 2026 season after missing the postseason for the first time since 2016.
In 2025, Astros players missed over 1800 games due to injury and led the majors with a staggering 17.6 WAR lost due to injury.
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