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Drug policy ratified

Associated Press Ryan Braun signed the largest contract in Brewers history. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Associated Press Ryan Braun signed the largest contract in Brewers history. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Baseball owners unanimously ratified tougher drug testing rules Thursday in Milwaukee.

Players have until May 23 to ratify the drug agreement, which will increase the frequency of tests and the authority of the program’s independent administrator.

“A lot of it can be enacted right away,” commissioner Bud Selig said.

The next frontier in drug testing may be the development of a validated, commercially available test for Human Growth Hormone.

“We’re working very hard,” Selig said. “We’re watching what happens in the Olympics.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency has announced it will have a blood test for HGH available at the Beijing Olympics.

MLB has commissioned a joint study with the NFL to develop a test.

Braun gets $45M deal

Ryan Braun agreed to the largest contract in Milwaukee Brewers history.

The 2007 N.L. Rookie of the Year signed a $45 million, eight-year deal.

Braun’s contract, which runs through 2015, includes a $2.3 million bonus this season and could increase to $51 million through escalators.

The deal surpasses the $42 million, four-year contract the Brewers gave free-agent pitcher Jeff Suppan before the 2007 season and is the longest contract in Brewers history.

Clearing the bases

Gary Sheffield lasted just five games as a left fielder, shifting to designated hitter when the Detroit Tigers faced Kansas City. Sheffield had right shoulder surgery during the off-season to repair a labral tear. His throwing remains restricted. … Major league batting leader Chipper Jones was held out of Atlanta’s starting lineup at Philadelphia because of a sore groin. Jones’ average is .418. He has hit safely in 32 of 37 games and ranks second in the major leagues in on-base percentage (.479) and slugging percentage (.705). … Six days after being released by San Diego, Jim Edmonds started in center field for the Chicago Cubs and batted sixth against the Padres. … San Francisco placed reliever Merkin Valdez on the disabled list with a strained elbow on his throwing arm, which isn’t believed to be related to his surgery on Sept. 27, 2006.