BASEBALL

ASTROS CUT CLEMENS LOOSE The Houston Astros declined to offer salary arbitration to Roger Clemens yesterday, a move that means he can’t re-sign with the National League champions until May 1. The seven-time Cy Young Award winner spent the last two seasons with his hometown team and hasn’t decided whether to pitch next year or retire. At 43, he led the major leagues in ERA at 1.87, going 13-8 to help the Astros reach the World Series for the first time.

Clemens made $18 million, and the Astros didn’t want to risk going to salary arbitration while they awaited his decision whether to play. Clemens still intends to pitch for America in March during the inaugural World Baseball Classic.

With 341 victories, Clemens is ninth on the career list. His 4,502 strikeouts are second only to Nolan Ryan’s 5,714.

WHITE SOX CUT TIES WITH THOMAS The Chicago White Sox cut ties with slugger Frank Thomas, refusing yesterday to offer salary arbitration to the two-time American League MVP. Chicago’s decision to let Thomas go was not a surprise. The White Sox re-signed first baseman Paul Konerko, agreeing last week to a $60 million, five-year contract, and acquired Jim Thome, who figures to become the designated hitter.

Hobbled by leg injuries for the second straight season, the 37-year-old Thomas hit .219 with 12 homers and 26 RBI in 34 games.A five-time All-Star,Thomas has a .307 career average with 448 homers and 1,465 RBI. He won consecutive MVP awards in 1993 and 1994.

BRAVES DEAL ESTRADA The Atlanta Braves traded All-Star catcher Johnny Estrada to the Arizona Diamondbacks yesterday for right-handed relievers Lance Cormier and Oscar Villarreal. The 29-year-old Estrada hit .261 last season with four home runs and 39 RBI. He made the NL All-Star team in 2004, when he batted .314 with nine homers and 76 RBI.

Cormier was 7-3 with a 5.11 ERA last season, and Villarreal went 2-0 with a 5.27 ERA.

MARLINS SEND PIERRE TO CUBS The Florida Marlins like ly finished their salary purge yesterday, sending center fielder Juan Pierre to the Chicago Cubs for right-hander Sergio Mitre and Double-A pitchers Ricky Nolasco and Renyel Pinto.

The only high-priced players left on the Marlins’ roster are 22-game winner Dontrelle Willis and slugger Miguel Cabrera, who are eligible for salary arbitration for the first time but not expected to be traded.Pierre is eligible for salary arbitration and expected to make $5 million to $6 million in 2006. In all, the Marlins have cut about $45 million in 2006 payroll.

Pierre, 28, batted .276 with 181 hits, 96 runs and 57 stolen bases last season. Mitre was 2-5 with a 5.37 ERA in 60 1/3 innings.

Also yesterday, the Cubs signed John Mabry to a one-year deal worth $1.075 million.The 35-year-old batted .240 with 24 extra-base hits and 32 RBI for St. Louis last season.

PADRES RETAIN WAGNER, SEND LORETTA TO BOSTONTrevor Hoffman will stay with the San Diego Padres after agreeing yesterday to a $13.5 million, two-year contract that includes an option for 2008. Hoffman saved 43 games last season, going 1-6 with a 2.97 ERA. He is second on the career saves list with 436 – all but two with the Padres.

Also yesterday,the Padres agreed to a deal with the Red Sox that will send second baseman Mark Loretta to Boston in exchange for backup catcher Doug Mirabelli. The 34-year-old Loretta is a .301 career hitter and is signed through 2006 at a salary of $3 million.With Boston having minor leaguer Dustin Pedroia on the horizon, Loretta is likely a short-term solution.

FOOTBALL

RAY LEWIS HAS SEASON-ENDING SURGERY Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis underwent season-ending surgery on his torn right hamstring yesterday, concluding a frustrating year in which he played in only six games.The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been sidelined since October 23, when he left in the fourth quarter of a loss to the Chicago Bears. Even though he’s missed the past six weeks, Lewis still ranks second on the Ravens with 77 tackles.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

THREE PLAYERS INVITED TO HEISMAN PRESENTATION

The Heisman Trophy competition is a three-man race – just as it’s been all season. Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart of Southern California will be back in New York on Saturday, along with Texas quarterback Vince Young, when the Heisman Trophy is awarded to the nation’s best college football player.

Last season, five players attended the Heisman ceremony and Leinart won it. Since 1999, either four or five finalists have been invited to New York.

REPORT: BARNETT OUT IN COLORADO Colorado coach Gary Barnett will not be retained following three straight losses to end the season, the Denver Post reported yesterday.

The coach has a year remaining on his contract and, if he is fired, he’ll be owed about $1.8 million – money many believe the school cannot afford to pay. Barnett’s record is 49-38 after seven seasons.The 59-year-old coach had emerged relatively unscathed from a recruiting scandal, winning Big 12 Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and advancing to the conference title game for the second straight year this season. The president, chancellor, and athletic director all stepped down in the aftermath of the scandal, which resulted in an investigation that concluded drugs, alcohol, and sex were used to entice recruits to Boulder.

SOCCER

MAN. UNITED BOOTED FROM CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Manchester United was knocked of the European Champions League in the first round, wasting a lead and losing 2-1 at Benfica last night. It was the first time since the 1995-96 season that Manchester United was eliminated in the group stage of Europe’s top club tournament.

Paul Scholes scored in the sixth minute, but Geovanni tied the score in the 16th minute and Beto put the Portuguese team ahead in the 34th with a shot that deflected off Scholes and into the goal. Manchester United finished last in its group and failed to advanced to even the UEFA Cup, Europe’s no. 2 club competition, a performance that will cost the team financially.

Benfica, Villarreal, and Werder Bremen became the final three teams to advance to the second round. Villarreal defeated Lille 1-0 and Werder Bremen defeated Panathinaikos 5-1.Thirteen teams had already qualified for the final 16: AC Milan, PSV Eindhoven, Lyon, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Juventus, Arsenal, Ajax, Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Rangers, and Barcelona.

– Associated Press