Ex informs grand jury Bonds knew

Barry Bonds’ former girlfriend told a grand jury in San Francisco last week the Giants slugger revealed to her he knowingly used steroids, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday.

Kimberly Bell, a 35-year-old graphic artist from San Jose, told the grand jury investigating alleged steroid distribution by BALCO that Bonds confided to her he was using a non-injected form of steroids in 2000 and said steroid use was “common” in baseball, according to the Chronicle, which cited two people familiar with an account of her testimony.

“She heard it, and she saw what appeared to be the effects of it,” Bell’s lawyer, Hugh Levine, told USA TODAY on Sunday.

However, Levine said Bell never saw Bonds use steroids.

Players, owners agree to drop fines

Baseball players and owners agreed to drop the possibility of fines for steroid use, leaving suspensions as the only discipline, according to management’s top labor lawyer.

Union leader Donald Fehr told the House Government Reform Committee he would have to consult with players.

McCain doesn’t trust MLB

Saying Major League Baseball “can’t be trusted,” Sen. John McCain warned that legislation might be needed to force the sport to change its steroids policy.

The Arizona Republican joined the chorus of congressmen expressing distress with baseball’s drug-testing plan after testimony from commissioner Bud Selig and Fehr at the HGR Committee hearing on steroids Thursday.

“It just seems to me they can’t be trusted,” McCain told ABC’s “This Week.”

San Jose seeks major league team

San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales announced plans to submit a proposal to baseball in hopes of attracting a team to the city, which rests 50 miles south of San Francisco.

Gonzales held an informal news conference in front of Phoenix Muni Stadium before the start the spring training game between the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.

“A major league team in San Jose just makes sense,” Gonzales said. “If San Jose had an American League team, we would be the fifth-largest city in the league.”

Clearing the bases

The New York Mets acquired left-hander Kazuhisa Ishii from the Los Angeles Dodgers for catcher Jason Phillips. … New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter missed the game against Tampa Bay with a bruised left foot and will be out for the next few days. … Cleveland Indians outfielder Jody Gerut was placed on the 15-day disabled list and is not expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment until late May or early June.