Twins settle with AL MVP Morneau

Justin Morneau agreed to meet the Minnesota Twins halfway. The AL MVP agreed yesterday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Twins, who also settled their salary arbitration cases with third baseman Nick Punto ($4.2 million, two-year contract), reliever Juan Rincon ($2 million, one year), and outfielder Lew Ford ($985,000, one year). Morneau's agreement was at the midpoint between the $5 million he requested and the $4 million the team offered . . . The Toronto Blue Jays settled their remaining salary arbitration cases, agreeing to one-year contracts with left fielder Reed Johnson ($3,075,000), right fielder Alex Rios ($2,535,000), and pitcher Scott Downs ($1,025,000) . . . Ray Berres, a catcher who played for the Boston Braves in 1940 and '41, and a longtime pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox, died at 99 of heart failure and pneumonia. Berres was the second-oldest living major leaguer; Rollie Stiles, who pitched for the St. Louis Browns from 1930-1933, is 100.

New York Yankee Carl Pavano, who hasn't seen major league action since 2005 because of shoulder, back, buttocks, elbow, and rib injuries, said he's healthy and ready to pitch again. Pavano, a 31-year-old righthander, went 4-6 with a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts for the Yankees two years ago before going on the disabled list.

Soccer

A police officer was killed when fans rioted at a Serie A game between Sicilian sides Catania and Palermo, prompting the Italian soccer federation to postpone all league matches this weekend and cancel next week's national team exhibition game against Romania . . . Clint Dempsey and Taylor Twellman will be teammates again next week. Dempsey, the US player of the year who left the Revolution last month to join Fulham of England's Premier League, was selected for the 20-man US roster for Wednesday's exhibition game against Mexico at Glendale, Ariz. Bobby Convey, Carlos Bocanegra, and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who also play in England, were also picked for the team. Twellman is among the 16 MLS players on the US roster . . . The Revolution signed their top three picks in this year's MLS SuperDraft -- midfielder Wells Thompson, midfielder/defender Amaechi Igwe, and midfielder Ryan Solle.

Miscellany

Top-ranked Maria Sharapova retired during the second set of her Pan Pacific Open semifinal against Ana Ivanovic today because of a hamstring injury. After dropping the first set, 6-1, the Russian star consulted with her trainer. She won the first game of the second set before retiring. Martina Hingis coasted to a 6-0, 6-1 win over Samantha Stosur yesterday to advance to a semifinal against Elena Dementieva . . . Forward Grant Hill, the Orlando Magic's second-leading scorer, is expected to miss at least two weeks because of a sprained knee . . . Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen plans to repurchase the Rose Garden Arena, three years after he gave it up in bankruptcy proceedings . . . The top US finishers in parallel giant slaloms in Bardonecchia, Italy, were Sudbury natives. Tyler Jewell was a World Cup career-best sixth in a race won by Switzerland's Roland Haldi. Michelle Gorgone finished eighth in a race won by Switzerland's Fraenzi Kohli . . . Jockey Jose Santos will be sidelined indefinitely after sustaining spinal injuries, broken ribs, and possibly a broken nose in a three-horse spill at Aqueduct Thursday . . . The Sports Museum is accepting entries from students in grades 4-12 for the 2007 Will McDonough Writing Contest, designed to encourage the development of language and writing skills while incorporating the topic of sports. Boston Globe editors and writers will choose the essay winners, who will each receive a $100 savings bond. For an entry form, visit www.sportsmuseum.org, or call 617-624-1233.