Pepi, Steffen left off US World Cup roster
NEW YORK >> Tim Ream, Haji Wright, Joe Scally and Sean Johnson made the United States’ World Cup roster, while Zack Steffen, Paul Arriola, Jordan Pefok and Ricardo Pepi were among those cut.
U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter made the longawaited announcement Wednesday of the 26-man group that will gather in Qatar for training next week ahead of the opener against Wales on Nov. 21.
On what figures to be the youngest of the 32 teams by average age, 29-year-old right back DeAndre Yedlin is the only holdover from the 2014 World Cup. Yedlin, Christian Pulisic, Kellyn Acosta and Ream are remaining players from the infamous loss at Trinidad that prevented the Americans from reaching the 2018 tournament.
Griner
BIDEN HOPES PUTIN WILL NEGOTIATE WNBA STAR’S
RELEASE >> President Joe Biden said that he hopes Russian President Vladimir Putin will be more willing to negotiate the release of WNBA star Brittney Griner now that the U.S. midterm elections are over.
Biden spoke hours after Griner’s lawyers revealed that she had been sent to a penal colony to serve her sentence for drug possession.
U.S. officials have for months tried to negotiate the release Griner and another American jailed in Russia, Paul Whelan. But there have been no overt
signs of progress. Baseball
BAKER TO RETURN AS HOUSTON ASTROS MANAGER FOR 2023 >> Fresh off his World Series win, Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker has agreed to a one-year contract to remain with the team next season.
The 73-year-old Baker earned his first World Series championship as a manager in his 25th season as a skipper when the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six games Saturday.
The contracts of both general manager James Click and Baker expired at season’s end but Click’s has not yet been renewed. DÍAZ, METS INK $102M, 5-YEAR DEAL, RECORD FOR MLB CLOSER >> All-Star closer Edwin Díaz and the New York Mets finalized their $102 million, fiveyear contract — the largest for a reliever in baseball history.
Díaz can opt out after three seasons, and the deal includes a team option
for 2028. Hockey
OILERS’ KANE OUT 3-4 MONTHS AFTER WRIST CUT BY SKATE >> Edmonton Oilers forward Evander Kane will miss three to four months after being cut on the left wrist by a skate blade.
The injury occurred during Edmonton’s 3-2 win at Tampa Bay on Tuesday.
Kane was transported to a hospital and underwent a procedure Tuesday night. The team placed the former Sharks player on long-term injured reserve.
Pro basketball
NETS MAKE VAUGHN COACH >> The Brooklyn Nets made Jacque Vaughn their head coach, promoting Steve Nash’s replacement instead of hiring suspended Boston coach Ime Udoka.
Vaughn has gone 2-2 as acting coach since the Nets and Nash parted ways on Nov. 1. His first game as the head coach was Wednesday night at home against the New York Knicks.