As the World Baseball Classic gears up for another global showcase, not every superstar will be suiting up for their country - and for the Houston Astros, that reality is hitting especially hard. Both José Altuve and Carlos Correa have been ruled out of the tournament due to one frustrating but increasingly common issue: they couldn’t get their contracts insured.
It’s a tough blow for fans hoping to see some of baseball’s biggest names on the international stage, but it also shines a harsh light on the Astros’ financial strategy - or lack thereof. When you dig into how the WBC insurance process works, it becomes clear that this isn’t just about bad luck. It’s about risk - and the Astros are carrying more of it than most.
Why Altuve and Correa Are Sitting Out
The WBC’s insurance system is designed to protect clubs from financial fallout if a player gets injured during the tournament. It’s a simple premise: if a player gets hurt, the insurance covers the guaranteed salary, not the team. But there’s a catch - the player has to be insurable, and that’s where things get complicated.
Insurance companies break players into three tiers: low risk, intermediate risk, and chronic condition. That last one - chronic - is the red flag. It includes players with multiple stints on the 60-day injured list, those with a history of surgeries, or anyone coming off a recent procedure.
That’s where Altuve and Correa land.
Altuve had offseason surgery on his right foot and, of course, is still remembered for the broken thumb he suffered during the 2023 WBC. Correa, meanwhile, has battled chronic foot issues for years. Combine those medical red flags with their hefty contracts, and you’ve got a pair of players insurance companies won’t touch.
The Cost of Risk
Here’s where the numbers come into play. Altuve is set to make $33 million this season.
If he plays in the WBC and gets hurt, the Astros are on the hook for every penny. Correa, now with the Twins, still has $21.5 million of his salary paid by Houston as part of the financial gymnastics from his deal.
If he were to get hurt, the Astros would still be paying their portion - and the Twins would be on the line for the rest.
Could the Astros have allowed either player to participate anyway? Technically, yes.
If a player is denied insurance, the team can choose to take on the risk. But with that much money on the line - and with Houston already trying to duck under the $244 million luxury tax threshold - it’s not hard to see why they passed.
A Bigger Problem in Houston
This isn’t just about two players missing a tournament. It’s a reflection of how the Astros’ payroll has been structured - and how some of those decisions are now boxing them into a corner.
Plenty of high-salary stars will play in the WBC. Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Juan Soto are all expected to represent their countries.
But what separates them from Altuve and Correa is the combination of age, injury history, and long-term durability. Those factors, more than the dollar amounts alone, are what make a player uninsurable.
And for Houston, that’s a problem. These aren’t fringe players.
Altuve is still the heart and soul of the franchise, and Correa - even after moving on - remains a defining piece of the Astros’ past and financial present. But both are now aging stars with health concerns and massive salaries, and that’s a tough trio to manage.
The Long-Term View
It’s easy to look at this situation and focus on the WBC implications. But the real story is about how the Astros got here.
When teams hand out big contracts, they’re betting on sustained production and durability. When those bets don’t pay off, it doesn’t just affect the lineup - it limits flexibility, increases financial risk, and, in this case, keeps stars off the international stage.
For Houston, the inability to insure Altuve and Correa is a symptom of a deeper issue: a roster top-heavy with aging, high-priced talent and too much financial risk tied to players whose best years might be behind them.
The Astros are still a contender - there’s no question about that. But as they try to stay under the luxury tax threshold and navigate the back end of these major contracts, the margin for error is shrinking. And when your stars can’t even get insured to play in the WBC, it’s a sign that the bill for past decisions might be coming due.