Bad Bunny Tried to Insure Astros Stars for World Baseball Classic

Music superstar's efforts to get Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor to play in the WBC were blocked by their MLB teams.

Feb. 8, 2026 at 3:47pm

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Astros third baseman Carlos Correa and Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor will miss the 2026 World Baseball Classic due to insurance concerns. However, according to former MLB All-Star Carlos Baerga, global music sensation Bad Bunny attempted to pay for the insurance coverage that would have allowed Correa and Lindor to participate. But the Astros and Mets ultimately vetoed Bad Bunny's plan, keeping their star players off the Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic national teams.

Why it matters

The World Baseball Classic is a prestigious international tournament that allows MLB stars to represent their home countries. Correa and Lindor's absence is a disappointment for fans, especially in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. This story highlights the complex business considerations that can prevent top players from suiting up for their national teams.

The details

Both Correa and Lindor failed to get their MLB contracts insured for the WBC, a common issue that leads many stars to skip the event. However, according to former MLB All-Star Carlos Baerga, global music superstar Bad Bunny attempted to pay for the insurance coverage that would have allowed Correa and Lindor to play. But the Astros and Mets ultimately rejected Bad Bunny's plan, keeping their star players off the Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic national teams.

  • Correa and Lindor will miss the 2026 World Baseball Classic in March.
  • Baerga's comments about Bad Bunny's insurance offer were made in a recent podcast.

The players

Carlos Correa

Astros third baseman who played for Puerto Rico in the 2017 WBC.

Francisco Lindor

Mets shortstop who will also miss the 2026 WBC due to insurance concerns.

Bad Bunny

Global music superstar who reportedly tried to pay for insurance coverage to allow Correa and Lindor to play in the WBC.

Carlos Baerga

Former MLB All-Star and current podcast host who reported on Bad Bunny's insurance offer.

Dana Brown

Astros general manager who discussed the team's approach to WBC participation.

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What they’re saying

“Carlos Baerga reported that the world-famous urban music artist Bad Bunny paid the insurance for players Carlos Correa and Francisco Lindor. However, neither the Astros nor the Mets granted them permission to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.”

— Héctor Gómez, Spanish-language MLB reporter

“We tell our guys, 'Look, if you want to participate, if that's what their prerogative is, you can do that.' 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.”

— Dana Brown, Astros general manager

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Bad Bunny will continue his efforts to get Correa and Lindor on the Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic WBC rosters.

The takeaway

This story highlights the complex business considerations that can prevent top MLB stars from representing their home countries in international tournaments like the World Baseball Classic, even when high-profile figures like Bad Bunny try to facilitate their participation.