Lawyer’s plea deal will keep reporters out of jail
Two San Francisco Chronicle reporters will avoid jail time under a plea agreement by a criminal defense lawyer who admitted leaking them secret grand jury documents from the BALCO steroids investigation.
In court papers filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court, attorney Troy Ellerman said he allowed reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada to view transcripts of the grand jury testimony of baseball stars Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield.
Ellerman had represented Victor Conte, founder of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, the Burlingame supplements lab that allegedly provided performance enhancing drugs to the elite athletes, as well as BALCO vice president James Valente.
The Chronicle published stories in 2004 that reported Giambi and Montgomery admitted to the grand jury that they took steroids, while Bonds and Sheffield testified they didn’t knowingly take the drugs. The leaked testimony also was featured prominently in the writers’ book, “Game of Shadows,” which recounts Bonds’ alleged use of steroids.
A federal judge ordered the reporters jailed after they refused to divulge their source. They have remained free pending an appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Rivera would consider offers
Mariano Rivera had this warning for the New York Yankees: If he becomes a free agent, he’ll consider offers from other teams.
“Everybody has the same shot,” he said. “The Yankees will not have an advantage.”
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman called the 37-year-old closer Tuesday night, a day after Rivera said he was hoping for a contract extension. Cashman told Rivera his preference is to decide the matter after the season.
Clearing the bases
Former All-Star Dmitri Young agreed to a minor league contract with Washington, getting another chance after Detroit cut him last year following legal and substance problems. … Boston officially added outfielder J.D. Drew to its roster after left-handed pitcher Lenny DiNardo was claimed on waivers by Oakland. The club announced the $70 million deal with Drew on Jan. 26, seven weeks after a preliminary agreement was reached. … Free-agent right-hander Steve Trachsel finalized a $3.1 million, one-year contract with Baltimore.