WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC NEWS

Dinners, drones and apps: Spalletti's plan for improving Italy after securing spot at Euro 2024

The “real work” starts now for Italy and coach Luciano Spalletti after the Azzurri qualified for the European Championship

NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yoshinobu Yamamoto posted; 45-day signing window open Nov. 21 through Jan. 4

The sweepstakes for one of the biggest MLB free agents this season commences Tuesday, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been posted.

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Yoshinobu Yamamoto becomes free agent Tuesday, talks can run through Jan. 4

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will become a free agent Tuesday and major league teams can sign him through 5 p.m. EST on Jan. 4

NOVEMBER 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodgers offseason primer: 5 burning questions, including will they land Shohei Ohtani?

For the second straight year, the Dodgers won 100-plus games and bowed out in the NLDS. Here are five areas they must address this offseason...

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf pulls out of test tour of Australia

Fast bowler Haris Rauf has pulled out of the Pakistan team and three uncapped players were named in an 18-member squad for the test tour of Australia

NOVEMBER 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Oakland Athletics agree to 1-year contracts with infielders Miguel Andujar and Abraham Toro

The Oakland Athletics have agreed to one-year contracts with infielders Miguel Andujar and Abraham Toro

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ohtani's second straight MVP award cranks out extra editions in Japanese newspapers

Two-way star Shohei Ohtani is not only great for baseball — he’s also a blessing for Japan’s newspaper industry

NOVEMBER 17, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Australia's Michael Hooper switches to sevens rugby, eyes 2024 Paris Olympics

Long-time Wallabies captain Michael Hooper is shifting his focus to rugby sevens from the 15-a-side game with a plan to play for Australia at next year’s Paris Olympics

NOVEMBER 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

2023 MLB free-agency odds: Yoshinobu Yamomoto's next team, including Mets, Red Sox

Yamamoto is one of the top names on the free-agent market this offseason. Here are the latest odds on where the Japanese star might land.

NOVEMBER 15, 2023

Italy faces showdown with Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying. Albania and Slovenia well set to advance

The final rounds of European Championship qualifiers sees defending champion Italy needing a strong finish to clinch a spot at the tournament, while Albania and Slovenia can secure...

NOVEMBER 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Israel loses to Kosovo in Euro 2024 qualifying game

Israel’s chances of reaching the European Championship finals went down Sunday after its 1-0 loss to Kosovo in their delayed qualifying game

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Canada tops Italy to win Billie Jean King Cup for 1st time one year after men's team won Davis Cup

Leylah Fernandez and Marina Stakusic won their singles matches as Canada defeated Italy 2-0 to claim its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup

NOVEMBER 12, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shohei Ohtani free agency: Ben Verlander's top three landing spots

With MLB free agency in effect, Ben Verlander ranks the three teams most likely to land Shohei Ohtani — including a shocker at No. 2.

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto headed to MLB, will go through posting system

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will likely be one of the most sought after free agents this offseason in baseball after the 25-year-old's dominant tenur...

NOVEMBER 6, 2023

Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto headed to MLB after his Orix club agrees to transfer

Yoshinobu Yamamoto will be allowed to move to a Major League Baseball team under the player posting system

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chile forced to play striker in goal, drops 1-0 game to Mexico in Pan American gold medal match

Chile’s women’s soccer team had a shot at its biggest achievement in history in the Pan American Games’ gold medal game, but was forced to put a player who usually plays striker in...

NOVEMBER 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Diving runner wins Canada's 1st track and field gold at Pan American Games

Charles Philibert-Thiboutot dived across the finish line to win the men’s 1,500-meter race and give Canada its first track and field gold medal at this year’s Pan American Games in...

NOVEMBER 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cuban-Chilean decathlete Ford embraces his new nation after gold medal at Pan American Games

The 26-year-old Santiago Ford traveled 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) from his native Cuba to Chile in 2018 after a group of Chilean coaches visited the island

NOVEMBER 1, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Egypt-born "Slim" Shady El Nahas claims Canada's only judo gold so far at the Pan American Games

Shady El Nahas, a 25-year-old Egypt-born Canadian heavyweight judoka, captured the only judo gold medal for Canada so far at the Pan American Games

OCTOBER 31, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Boxers La Cruz and López recover some pride for Cuba at Pan American Games

Cuba, once a sports superpower, now celebrates every gold medal at the Pan American Games

OCTOBER 27, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

MATCHDAY: England plays scandal-hit Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying. Hungary and Denmark can qualify.

A European Championship spot is within reach for England as Gareth Southgate’s team hosts scandal-hit Italy at Wembley in a repeat of the 2021 final

OCTOBER 16, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Spithill skippers Team USA to a SailGP win three weeks after losing a crewman to injury

Jimmy Spithill barely made it into the podium race and then brilliantly skippered Team USA to victory in the Spain Sail Grand Prix Cádiz, three weeks after crewman Hans Henken was...

OCTOBER 15, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Italy puts scandal-ridden week behind it to beat Malta 4-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying

Italy has put a scandal-ridden week behind it to beat Malta 4-0 in a European Championship qualifier

OCTOBER 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

France defense hit by injuries ahead of European qualifier against the Netherlands

Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi have been called up as injury replacements ahead of France’s match against the Netherlands in qualifying for the European Championship

OCTOBER 9, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Inside Ronald Acuña Jr.’s tumultuous offseason — and the historic 2023 that followed

Ronald Acuña Jr. nearly sat out of the WBC before an intervention from Miguel Cabrera. We go behind the scenes of a turbulent winter, a reun...

OCTOBER 6, 2023