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Seattle Mariners

Montero claims innocence after name linked to clinic

Mariners’ Jesus Montero says he doesn’t know how his name ended up in documents. (Associated Press)
Geoff Baker And Larry Stone Seattle Times

PEORIA, Ariz. – Mariners catcher Jesus Montero said Wednesday he has “no clue” how his name ended up in documents belonging to the South Florida anti-aging clinic Biogenesis.

“What can I tell you? I have no idea,” Montero said. “Like I said, I have no clue what happened. I feel like I’m caught in the middle of something, and I don’t know why.”

The Seattle Times interviewed Montero at the Mariners’ spring-training complex in Peoria, where he is working out with teammates in preparation for the start of spring training next week.

The New York Daily News reported Wednesday that Montero is named in records from Biogenesis, said to be a haven for those wanting to acquire performance-enhancing drugs.

The clinic, run by Anthony Bosch, has since been shuttered. But it’s been the focus of increased investigation from MLB and federal officials the past week-plus, since a report in the Miami New Times linked it as a supply point for PEDs given to Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and other players. Montero said he has never been a client of the clinic, or of Bosch.

“I don’t even know who he is,” he said. “I’ve never heard of him.” Until this morning, that is. That’s when Montero got a call from his agent telling him his name had popped up in stories linked to the clinic. Montero said he only went to the Miami area to visit family members and has never lived or trained there.

He said he knew A-Rod from his time in the Yankees’ farm system but never bought supplements through him or any teammates.

The Mariners said they were aware of the report, but had no comment until an investigation is concluded. The Mariners apparently were told that Montero’s name appeared in clinic documents, in a letter sent to them by the Miami New Times seeking comment before publication of their original article. The New Times article had no mention of Montero.

Montero is a client of Brooklyn-based agents Sam and Seth Levinson and their ACES agency, which has been the subject of an MLB probe ever since their client, Cabrera, tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone and was suspended for 50 games.

Jamie Appel, the agent with ACES who handles Montero, declined to comment Wednesday morning when reached by The Seattle Times.

There is no specific mention of PEDs and Montero in the documents.

Montero has a younger brother who is also named Jesus Montero, a catcher in the Cardinals’ farm system. Seattle’s Montero is Jesus Alejandro Montero, while the Cardinals’ player is Jesus Rafael Montero.