Report: MLB discussing WBC insurance after Puerto Rico threatens to withdraw

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."

Puerto Rico's threat may have already spurred some change, as it could result in MLB approving additional players who were previously denied, a source told Tim Healey of the Boston Globe.

Puerto Rico also worked with WBC president Jim Small to issue a request for MLB commissioner Rob Manfred to reconsider the cases of several of its players, according to El Nuevo Día's Carlos Rosa, as translated by Spradling. A meeting was held Saturday to discuss the insurance issues.

In response to the criticisms, a WBC spokesperson told Spradling, "The vetting process on player eligibility for all WBC teams is currently ongoing."

Lindor was denied insurance because he underwent elbow surgery in October, shortly after the New York Mets' season ended. While he withdrew from the WBC, the 32-year-old said in a statement Friday that he'll be a full participant at Mets spring training.

But Lindor was far from the only player affected. Eight members of Puerto Rico's roster - including Carlos Correa, Victor Caratini, and Jovani Morán, among others - also withdrew from the WBC for various reasons, including insurance issues. Venezuela lost second baseman Jose Altuve and shortstop Miguel Rojas due to a lack of insurance; Altuve's team, the Houston Astros, reportedly requested that he skip the tournament.

Rojas, who turns 37 in February, was denied insurance for the tournament because of his age. A new policy in place beginning with this WBC prevents players aged 37 or older from being insured, according to ESPN's Alden González. The new rule left him incensed ahead of what's likely his final big-league season, and last chance to play for his country.

"My only question is: Why is it just with our countries (in Latin America), like Venezuela, Puerto Rico, a couple Dominican players?" Rojas said Saturday at Dodgers FanFest, per González.

"I don't see that happening with the United States or happening with Japan. And I'm not trying to attack anybody, or attack what's going on ... but at the end of the day, it feels like it's just happening with the players that want to represent their country from Latin America. So there's a lot of things I would like to talk about with someone in control, with someone from MLB."

Full World Baseball Classic rosters will be announced Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. ET, two days after the submission deadline.