Astros, WBC, and the Correa Conundrum: Health Concerns, Not Dollars, Keep Stars Sidelined
As spring training inches closer and baseball fans gear up for the return of the World Baseball Classic, the Houston Astros are already making headlines - and not the kind they were hoping for. Two of their biggest names, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve, won’t be suiting up for their home countries this time around. And while the initial buzz pointed toward insurance issues as the culprit, the real story runs deeper than paperwork and premiums.
Let’s start with what we know: both Correa (Puerto Rico) and Altuve (Venezuela) were expected to represent their nations in the WBC. But due to insurance complications - the kind that protect MLB clubs from financial losses if a player gets injured during international play - they’ve been ruled out.
For Puerto Rico in particular, the absence of Correa is a major blow. But just when it seemed like the door was closed, an unexpected name entered the conversation: Bad Bunny.
Yes, that Bad Bunny - global music icon, Puerto Rican superstar, and recent Super Bowl halftime headliner - was reportedly willing to step in and pay the insurance premiums out of pocket for Correa and fellow Puerto Rican star Francisco Lindor. The report, which surfaced via former MLB player Carlos Baerga and was amplified by insider Hector Gomez, sparked a wave of speculation. Could a pop star really change the WBC roster?
Well, not quite.
Astros GM Dana Brown had already addressed the team’s stance on WBC participation a few days earlier, and his comments were telling. While Houston isn’t thrilled about the risk of players getting hurt in non-MLB competition, Brown made it clear that the final decision ultimately rests with the players themselves.
“We tell our guys, ‘Look, if you want to participate, if that’s what your prerogative is, you can do that,’” Brown said. “Some guys that suffer different injuries or different things like that, we might have a slightly different opinion, but we don’t have the final say.”
That last part is key. Because while the team may not officially block a player’s participation, it’s clear that health history plays a major role behind the scenes - and in Correa’s case, that history is hard to ignore.
This isn’t about money. If Bad Bunny’s offer was legitimate and the insurance premium was paid, the Astros wouldn’t be on the hook financially if Correa got hurt during the WBC.
But that’s not what’s really at stake here. What Houston is truly protecting is their long-term investment - and that investment comes with a lot of physical baggage.
Correa’s injury history is well-documented. From back issues to leg problems, he’s had more than his share of physical setbacks, and those concerns have followed him throughout his career. Multiple failed physicals during past free agency negotiations raised red flags, and even now, at age 31, there’s a lingering sense that his body could betray him at any moment.
That’s a tough pill to swallow for the Astros, who committed to Correa through at least 2028, with vesting options that could stretch the deal even further. If his health holds up and he produces, it’s a manageable situation. But if he breaks down - and the odds aren’t exactly in his favor - that contract could become an anchor on Houston’s payroll.
Pair that with the aging Altuve, another franchise icon with a hefty deal and recent injury concerns of his own, and you start to see the bigger picture. The Astros aren’t just being cautious - they’re trying to navigate the reality of a roster built around stars who are no longer spring chickens. This WBC situation didn’t create the problem; it just brought it into sharper focus.
So no, Correa won’t be suiting up for Puerto Rico. And no, it’s not because of a lack of funding or a denied insurance policy.
It’s because the Astros - and likely Correa himself - know what’s at stake. The risk isn’t theoretical.
It’s rooted in years of wear and tear, and a future that’s already financially committed.
For Houston, this is about preservation. About protecting what’s left of a championship core that’s aging in real time. And while the WBC is a celebration of national pride and elite talent, the Astros are playing the long game - even if that means sitting one of their stars on the sidelines.
The hope now is simple: that Correa can stay on the field, stay productive, and make that contract worth it. Because if he can’t, the Astros won’t just be paying for past performance - they’ll be paying for promises his body may no longer be able to keep.