How injury insurance has ruined WBC plans for Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve

The World Baseball Classic will be missing three of the world's best players because of injury insurance reasons.

Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa won't play for Puerto Rico, and the same is true for Jose Altuve with Venezuela.

All three have been done in by issues with injury insurance.

MORE: How Jose Ramirez is on pace to become Cleveland's Derek Jeter

What's happening with WBC injury insurance?

The main point to know is this: Major League Baseball requires every 40-man roster player taking part in the WBC to have an insurance policy that protects their MLB team financially if an injury takes place during the March tournament, according to CBS.

That means that the higher-paid, higher-risk players have a trickier time getting insured.

Lindor had a right-elbow "cleanup" this offseason, which is what the MLB Players Association said prevented him from securing insurance.

Correa isn't known to be hurt right now, but he'll be paid $31 million this season and has a long injury past.

MORE: Paul Skenes has added a new pitch

Altuve sustained a fractured thumb in the 2023 WBC that caused him to miss a chunk of regular season action with the Astros, which set up for a bad precedent when trying to get his insurance.

There could be other players dealing with this, too, but these are the three big names known publicly.

And while it makes sense on paper, it sure is a bummer on the diamond.

More MLB news:

• Team USA's projected WBC lineup is incredible
• Dominican Republic's projected WBC lineup is fierce
• How Trent Grisham's decision ruined the Yankees' offseason plans
• Buster Posey will change Hall of Fame voting forever
• Bo Bichette comments exhibit clear hyprocrisy
• Andrew McCutchen is not happy with the Pirates