The World Baseball Classic is almost here, and while fans gear up to cheer for their countries, Puerto Rico will be missing a familiar face this time around. Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez won’t be suiting up for the island nation in the 2026 WBC-and it’s not due to injury or personal choice. Báez is serving a two-year suspension stemming from a positive marijuana test during the 2023 tournament, and that ban runs through April 2026.
That timeline means Báez is officially ineligible for this year’s Classic, which begins March 5. While there haven’t been any reports of a recent violation, the consequences from 2023 are still in effect under the WBC’s strict drug policy.
It’s worth noting, though, that Báez isn’t facing any discipline from Major League Baseball itself. MLB’s stance on marijuana is far more lenient than the WBC’s, and Báez remains in good standing with the league.
It’s an unfortunate situation for Puerto Rico, which has leaned heavily on Báez’s electric defense and flair in past WBC runs. His absence leaves a noticeable hole in the infield and in the energy department-something that’s hard to replace on a tournament stage. But for Detroit, there’s a silver lining: Báez will be fully available for the regular season, and the Tigers won’t have to worry about injury risk during international play.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have been making noise of their own this offseason, and not just because of Báez. Detroit pulled off a surprise signing by landing left-hander Framber Valdez, a move that signals they’re serious about contending. But the bigger story might be what didn’t happen: the unresolved situation with ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, coming off a Cy Young-caliber season, just won a record-setting arbitration case-$32 million, the highest figure ever awarded in MLB arbitration history. The Tigers?
They didn’t even make a push to settle at the midpoint of $25.5 million, according to sources involved in the case. That’s a head-scratcher, especially given Skubal’s value and the message it sends to a player entering his prime.
The lack of negotiation effort could raise eyebrows in the clubhouse and among fans. When you’ve got a frontline starter who just turned in one of the best pitching seasons in baseball, the expectation is that you at least make a serious attempt to keep him happy. Instead, Detroit let the process play out, and now they’re on the hook for the full $32 million.
Still, the addition of Valdez gives the Tigers a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation. And with Báez back in the lineup come April, Detroit has the pieces to make another postseason push. But the Skubal situation is a reminder that building a contender isn’t just about who you add-it’s also about how you handle your stars.
As the WBC kicks off without Báez, and as spring training looms, the Tigers have a lot to prove. They’ve made bold moves, but they’ve also left some major questions unanswered.