Shohei Ohtani Wasn't Insured To Pitch In 2026 World Baseball Classic

"It covers four years for pitchers, two years for hitters. So that means if - if, this is a hypothetical - Ohtani were to pitch and were to be covered to pitch, which, according to information Ken (Rosenthal) and I had, he was not going to be. The insurance was not going to sign off on Shohei Ohtani being covered as a pitcher."

"But had he been, that would have meant the full 70, not the discounted 46 million with net present value and the deferrals, that $70 million per year for four years would have been covered under that policy,$280 million. That's obviously the most extreme example I can give you. But the point here is, when you have one star player on a big contract go down, the insurance company can very quickly take a bath."

"MLB players require insurance to participate in the WBC, unless their team waives the requirement. If the Dodgers waived the requirement and Ohtani were to get injured, they would still have to pay his full salary. Ohtani could also decide to waive his salary if he gets injured to participate as a pitcher, which is likely where Roberts noted it was still Ohtani's decision on pitching."

Shohei Ohtani will serve only as designated hitter for Samurai Japan at the 2026 World Baseball Classic and will not pitch. WBC insurance policies cover four years for pitchers and two years for hitters. Insurers declined to sign off on Ohtani being covered as a pitcher, which would have required coverage at roughly $70 million per year for four years, or about $280 million. MLB players must secure insurance to participate in the WBC unless their team waives the requirement. If a team waives the requirement and a player is injured, the team still must pay the player's full salary. A player can choose to waive his salary to participate as a pitcher.

Read at Dodger Blue