Mike Trout Won’t Play in 2026 World Baseball Classic - And It’s Not About the Bat or Glove
Mike Trout has been one of the faces of baseball for over a decade - a three-time MVP, a perennial All-Star, and a player whose presence on the field has long meant must-see baseball. So when Team USA revealed its roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic and Trout’s name was nowhere to be found, it raised eyebrows across the sport.
The reason? It’s not about ability. It’s about insurance.
Trout, who captained Team USA in the 2023 WBC and helped lead the squad to the championship game, won’t be suiting up this time around. According to reports, the Angels star was deemed unlikely to be insured for the international tournament - the same issue that has sidelined other big names like Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa from WBC participation.
Let’s break that down.
The Insurance Hurdle
Trout is under a $426.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels - one of the richest deals in MLB history. When a player participates in the WBC, they typically need to have insurance coverage in place to protect their MLB contract in the event of injury. Without that safety net, the financial risk is massive, both for the player and the team.
In Trout’s case, his recent injury history made it difficult - if not impossible - to secure that coverage. And given the stakes, it’s understandable why he (and the Angels) would opt out.
This isn’t a new issue. MLB stars with long-term deals and injury histories often run into this roadblock. Lindor, Correa, and Jose Altuve are just a few of the high-profile names also missing the 2026 WBC for similar reasons.
Trout’s Recent Track Record
In 2023, Trout was coming off a strong season - 119 games played, 6.1 bWAR, and a top-10 MVP finish. That version of Trout was healthy, productive, and a clear leader for Team USA.
Since then, things have changed. Over the past three seasons, Trout has played in just 82, 29, and 130 games, respectively.
That’s a far cry from his ironman years. And while he did manage to stay on the field for most of 2025, his production dipped - registering just 1.3 bWAR across those 130 games.
For a player of Trout’s caliber, that’s a significant drop-off in impact.
Even if Trout wasn’t penciled in as a starter for Team USA this time around, his leadership, experience, and presence in the clubhouse would’ve been invaluable. But without insurance coverage, the risk outweighed the reward.
Team USA Still Loaded
Make no mistake - Team USA isn’t limping into the 2026 WBC. This roster is stacked.
Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Bobby Witt Jr., Kyle Schwarber - that’s just the tip of the iceberg offensively. And the pitching staff? Paul Skenes, Tarik Skubal, Mason Miller and others give the U.S. a deep, electric rotation and bullpen mix.
Sure, not having Trout hurts - his resume speaks for itself, and his 2023 WBC performance reminded everyone just how much he still has in the tank when healthy. But this year’s squad still has the firepower to make a serious run at the title.
The Bigger Picture
Trout’s absence is a reminder of the complicated intersection between international competition and the business of baseball. Players want to represent their countries.
Fans want to see the best of the best on the field. But when hundreds of millions of dollars are on the line, insurance becomes a gatekeeper - and not everyone can get through.
For now, Trout will be watching the WBC from the sidelines. But if history has shown us anything, it’s that you can never count him out for good.