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New York Mets star Francisco Lindor is all-in on the World Baseball Classic and disagrees with the stance that Major League Baseball players should avoid the event because of the risk of injury.

Lindor addressed a wide range of WBC-related topics with reporters Monday night — five days after teammate Edwin Diaz suffered a season-ending knee injury while celebrating a victory by Puerto Rico.

The injuries to Diaz and Houston Astros star Jose Altuve have reignited the debate over MLB players participating in the WBC. Although he said Diaz’s injury “broke my heart,” Lindor told reporters he “100 percent” plans to play for Puerto Rico again in the next WBC and said “it’s a blessing and an honor and a privilege” to represent his country.

“We all care for each other and no one wants to get hurt,” Lindor said. “But we all love our countries and want to represent our countries. … We have an opportunity to represent our countries and learn from our peers. It’s amazing.”

Lindor said he is “super proud to be a New York Met” but also “super proud to be a Puerto Rican,” and emphasized that MLB players’ “participation [in the WBC] should still be there” in future years. The four-time All-Star shortstop declined to answer whether he would rather win a World Series or a WBC title.

“I’m not going to answer that question,” he said. “It’s just not fair. It’s not a fair question because I want to win two, three, four World Series and two, three, four WBCs. I’ve lost both and it is not a good feeling.”

With Lindor and his Puerto Rico teammates looking on, Diaz was carried off the field in tears Wednesday night with what was diagnosed as a torn patellar tendon. After closing out Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic, the All-Star closer’s knee appeared to buckle during the postgame celebration and he collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain as his teammates tearfully watched.

“It was heartbreaking,” Lindor said Monday. “I never knew I loved Edwin so much until I couldn’t stop crying. And that’s when I realized I loved Edwin a lot.

“It’s one of those moments that you wish you could go back and kind of do it in slow motion that way no one goes through that. It broke my heart. It did not feel good. Edwin kind of calmed the team a little bit. He talked to us after the game. It was a very, very sad clubhouse.”

Altuve suffered a fractured right thumb three nights later when he was hit by a pitch while playing for Venezuela. The Astros announced Sunday that the former American League MVP needed surgery and will be out indefinitely.

“These are injuries that none of us want — none of us, none of us,” Lindor said. “And they hurt, they suck, they feel terrible. I can understand everyone’s emotions. Believe me, I have those emotions too. … No one wants to get hurt. But we all love our countries and want to represent our countries.”

Lindor also said he feels in better shape physically after playing in the WBC and noted that he’s a better player after mingling with and competing against other stars in the tournament, calling the experience “unmatched.”

As for the Mets, who now must navigate the season without their $102 million closer, Lindor said he expects the team to rally without Diaz.

“We have to focus on what we have,” he said. “We have a really good team. A lot of guys are resilient.

“Are we going to miss Edwin? One hundred percent we are. He’s a huge part of our team. I think he’s the best closer in the game. But we’re all professional. We all have a job to do. We gotta go out there and take care of business.”

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Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at 39

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Former NASCAR driver Michael Annett dies at 39

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Michael Annett, a former race car driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR’s three national touring series, has died. He was 39.

JR Motorsports, one of Annett’s former teams, posted the news on social media Friday. No cause of death was announced.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team wrote. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM.

In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series. He won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and took the series opener at Daytona in 2008.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” the racing body said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

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Sources: UConn, Toledo’s Candle finalizing deal

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Sources: UConn, Toledo's Candle finalizing deal

UConn is finalizing a six-year deal with Toledo‘s Jason Candle to replace Jim Mora, who left to coach Colorado State, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Saturday.

Candle went 81-44 in 10 seasons at Toledo, with two MAC titles. He also coached the Rockets to a win in his debut as head coach, the Boca Raton Bowl in the 2015 season. Toledo was 8-4 this season and is awaiting a bowl assignment.

The 46-year-old Candle has been the top target of UConn’s search since the beginning, sources told Thamel. He visited campus Thursday, and the sides are expected to formalize the deal soon.

Mora is coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons at UConn, which hadn’t had one since 2007. Mora led UConn to three bowl seasons in his four years there; the school had been to only one bowl game in the previous 11 seasons.

UConn’s 2025 season (9-3) included a 2-1 mark against ACC schools, with wins over Duke and Boston College. UConn also had the distinction of not having any losses in regulation, as all three of its defeats came in overtime.

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Baker staying put as LSU defensive coordinator

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Baker staying put as LSU defensive coordinator

LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker is remaining with the program, coach Lane Kiffin said Friday on X.

Baker, who has led LSU’s defense the past two seasons, interviewed for head coaching vacancies at Tulane and Memphis this week and was a strong candidate, sources said. But he instead will remain with Kiffin, who prioritized retaining Baker, one of the nation’s highest-paid assistants at $2.5 million.

Baker is expected to receive a revised contract and a raise.

Under Baker, the Tigers ranked 15th in scoring defense and 25th nationally in total defense this fall. His retention capped a strong day for LSU, which signed defensive tackle Lamar Brown, ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit, and defensive tackle Deuce Geralds (No. 37).

Baker, 43, is in his second stint at LSU after coaching the team’s linebackers in 2021. A former Tulane linebacker, he also has held coordinator roles at Louisiana Tech, Miami and Missouri.

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