1 Year Contract

In the first major showdown between Mayor Martin O'Malley and the city work force, it appeared as if the workers blinked first. But as union officials, workers and observers this week assessed the damage, some say O'Malley's first union scuffle was more a draw than a victory. The 5,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 44 settled this week for a 2.25 percent pay raise - far less than the 10 percent they had sought - and agreed to start paying more for their prescription drugs.

Ravens veteran special teams performer Bennie Thompson agreed to a one-year contract yesterday and began practicing with the team. Thompson may be the final addition of consequence until the free-agency period virtually re-opens June 1. Thompson, 37, has played in the league nine seasons. He has led the Ravens in special teams tackles three of the four years the team has been in Baltimore, including 24 tackles last season. Thompson was named to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1998 and named an alternate last season.

Although many of the long-term concerns of Anne Arundel County's 220 detention officers are not resolved, a one-year contract providing a 5 percent pay increase will come up for a vote by membership this month. Negotiators will continue to work on a three-year agreement to address pension, special pay and other long-term benefits, according to union and county officials. If the detention workers accept the proposed one-year contract, the officers would also see their pay scale compressed from 19 years to 10 years to reach the top, said Carol Summerlyn, a representative of the Communications Workers of America, which acts as the bargaining unit for detention officers.

PHOENIX -- The Ravens haven't ended their quarterback hunt yet.After finalizing their deal to get Scott Mitchell from the Detroit Lions yesterday, the Ravens immediately started looking for a backup to play behind Mitchell.They made a one-year contract offer to Warren Moon and also are considering, among others, Tony Banks of the St. Louis Rams.Ozzie Newsome, the team's vice president of player personnel, said the Ravens may start trade talks with Rams coach Dick Vermeil as an insurance policy in case they don't get Moon.

Members of two Annapolis municipal unions overwhelmingly approved new one-year contracts last night that give 2 percent pay raises to police officers and blue-collar workers.Both unions will see the increase in their paychecks starting July 1 even though the city council has yet to approve both contracts.Under their contract, police officers will contribute 1 percent less to their pensions, similar to a provision in the pact that firefighters approved earlier this week. The city will assume the 1 percent.

Thirty retired Baltimore police officers -- including veteran homicide Detective Donald E. Worden -- have been hired back under one-year contracts to perform administrative jobs in the police force.Worden, a 33-year veteran who was venerated in the homicide unit and was the basis for a character in the "Homicide: Life on the Street" television series, and the other officers will handle desk jobs now done by uniformed officers."The intent is to free up police officers so they can go back to the street," said Maj. Walter Tuffy, who supervised the hiring.

BaseballAthletics: Recalled P Paul Fletcher from Triple-A Edmonton. Optioned P Bobby Chouinard to Edmonton.Cubs: Recalled P Kevin Foster from Triple-A Iowa. Placed P Amaury Telemaco on 15-day DL.Mariners: Recalled P Matt Wagner from Triple-A Tacoma. Optioned C Chris Widger to Tacoma.Red Sox: Placed P Stan Belinda on 15-day DL. Recalled P Rich Garces from Triple-A Pawtucket.Tigers: Released former Orioles C Mark Parent. Recalled P Greg Keagle from Triple-A Toledo.Bowie (Double A): Placed P Shane Hale, P Marcus Hostetler and P Kevin Ryan on DL for rest of season.

BaseballAstros: Declined to offer contracts to P Darryl Kile and SS Craig Shipley. Agreed with Kile on 1-year contract.Angels: Declined to offer contracts to P Shawn Boskie, P Mike Harkey and P Rich Monteleone.Brewers: Agreed on minor-league contract with C Matt Nokes.Cardinals: Purchased P Rick Honeycutt from Yankees and agreed on 1-year contract. Declined to offer contracts to 3B Scott Cooper, 2B Geronimo Pena and C Scott Hemond.Expos: Claimed OF Ray McDavid off waivers from Padres.Giants: Declined to offer contract to OF Deion Sanders.

Left-hander Jamie Moyer salvaged his career with a solid season in the Orioles' starting rotation last year, and yesterday he was rewarded with a new one-year contract that also calls for an option on the 1995 season.Moyer, 31, was called up to the major-league club after winning six straight decisions for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. That performance, combined with his 12 victories for the Orioles, made him the winningest pitcher in the organization."If he pitches anywhere close to the way he did for us last year, he's going to be a very important part of our ballclub," manager Johnny Oates said.

Wide receiver Art Monk finally had to concede yesterday that he had run out of options.Monk, the 35-year-old wide receiver who was upset after the Washington Redskins demoted him and refused to offer him a salary increase, signed a one-year deal for the same $1.1 million he made last year.The Redskins tossed in a hefty incentive package if he plays a lot, but they've told him that Ricky Sanders, Desmond Howard and Tim McGee will start camp ahead of him. He caught 46 passes last year and didn't get an offer from any other team even though he was a free agent.