Morneau signs Twins-record deal
Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer sat side by side, recipients of $104 million of commitment from Carl Pohlad’s bank account.
For a Minnesota Twins fan base that has watched Torii Hunter and Carlos Silva leave in free agency and worried about the possible trade of two-time A.L. Cy Young winner Johan Santana, it had to be a welcome sight.
Morneau, the 2006 A.L. MVP, received the most lucrative contract in Twins history – an $80 million, six-year deal. Cuddyer got three years and $24 million.
•Former major leaguer Chuck Knoblauch still has not been served with a subpoena by federal marshals, four days after a House committee investigating steroids in baseball issued a demand that he testify at a deposition and a hearing.
•Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena passed a physical, finalizing a three-year deal worth $24,125,000.
•Right-hander Chad Gaudin agreed to a $1,775,000, one-year contract with Oakland.
•Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca injured his left knee during a workout and will travel to Washington next week to be examined by a team doctor.
Football
A&M players indicted
Two Texas A&M players accused of tying up and mugging a drug dealer at gunpoint have been indicted on felony robbery charges.
Yemi Babalola and Brandon Joiner were indicted Thursday on two counts each of aggravated robbery, the district attorney’s office in College Station, Texas, said.
•Three Penn State players charged in connection with a campus fight last fall have been kicked off the team, at least temporarily, a person familiar with the players’ status said.
Defensive tackle Chris Baker and linebacker Navorro Bowman are awaiting trial on felony assault and other charges and cornerback Knowledge Timmons was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and defiant trespass.
•More than two weeks after he was sued over a $4 million buyout clause in his contract at West Virginia, Rich Rodriguez turned in a second resignation letter, claiming university president Mike Garrison reneged on a deal to reduce and possibly eliminate that clause.
Miscellany
Arkansas appeals
Arkansas has appealed the stiff sanctions imposed on its track and field program last year, calling the NCAA’s penalties “excessive and inappropriate.”
The Razorbacks lost two national titles and received three years’ probation for violations involving sprint star Tyson Gay and a former assistant coach.
•USC freshman star O.J. Mayo violated an NCAA rule by accepting free tickets from Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony to an NBA game, but his punishment won’t include missing games. He must contribute $460 to a charitable organization.
•Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun has suspended starting guard Jerome Dyson and backup guard Doug Wiggins indefinitely for violating team rules.