American League MVP Justin Morneau agreed yesterday to a $4.5 million, one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, who also settled their salary arbitration cases with third baseman Nick Punto, reliever Juan Rincon and outfielder Lew Ford.

Punto agreed to a $4.2 million, two-year contract, Rincon received a $2 million, one-year deal and Ford reached a $985,000, one-year agreement.

More baseball

Former Pirates pitcher Josh Fogg and the Colorado Rockies agreed to a one-year deal worth $3,625,000.

Right-hander Rick White and left-hander Scott Sauerbeck, both former Pirates pitchers, agreed to minor-league contracts with the Houston Astros.

Catcher Johnny Estrada avoided arbitration with the Milwaukee Brewers, agreeing to a $3.4 million, one-year deal.

The Toronto Blue Jays settled their three remaining salary arbitration cases, agreeing to one-year contracts with left fielder Reed Johnson, right fielder Alex Rios and pitcher Scott Downs. Johnson gets $3,075,000, Rios $2,535,000 and Downs $1,025,000.

Ray Berres, a former major-league catcher and longtime pitching coach for the Chicago White Sox, died of heart failure and pneumonia at his home in Kenosha, Wis. He was 99.

Pro football

A man police consider a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was convicted of an unrelated parole violation. Authorities said Willie Clark, 23, had been living in a different house than the one listed in his parole agreement.

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams narrowed his search for a new general manager, interviewing two finalists from the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Reinfeldt, the Seahawks' vice president of football operations, and Ruston Webster, their vice president of player personnel, met with Adams in Houston. Adams is also expected to interview Jacksonville Jaguars director of pro personnel Charles Bailey.

Hockey

Tom Gilbert scored a short-handed goal early in the first period but the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins lost to the Norfolk Admirals, 6-3, in the AHL.

Tennis

Maria Sharapova advanced to the Pan Pacific Open semifinals in Tokyo, rallying to beat crowd favorite Ai Sugiyama, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1. Sharapova will face fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in the semifinals today. Ivanovic defeated fourth-seeded compatriot Jelena Jankovic, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Martina Hingis, seeded second, coasted to a 6-0, 6-1 win against Australia's Samantha Stosur to advance to the semifinals.

Track and field

Gail Devers, 40, won the hurdles in 7.86 seconds against a stellar field at the 100th Millrose Games in New York. Devers, who hasn't raced much competitively in the past two years, edged 2004 Olympic champion Joanna Hayes (7.91) to win the 60-meter event. Also in the field were Devers' student, Danielle Carruthers (7.94), who was third.

Horse racing

Jockey Jose Santos will be out indefinitely because of injuries from a three-horse spill Thursday at Aqueduct in New York. Santos sustained spinal injuries, broken ribs and possibly a broken nose. Santos, 45, has more than 4,000 career victories, including the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness aboard Funny Cide.