Bonds wants to talk if given assurances
Barry Bonds wants to cooperate with special investigator George Mitchell, but will only talk to him if he is assured the information won’t be given to federal prosecutors.
Bonds also dropped his lawsuit against two San Francisco Chronicle reporters who published a book claiming the Giants slugger used steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs.
Mitchell was appointed by commissioner Bud Selig to head the probe into steroids in baseball.
“I’d like Barry to cooperate with Sen. Mitchell,” Bonds’ attorney, Michael Rains, told the Daily News in New York. “We believe Sen. Mitchell will be fair, thorough and impartial. But here’s the problem: Anything that happens there can become fodder for the federal government and for another book that will make reporters rich.”
A federal grand jury in San Francisco is now investigating whether Bonds lied under oath about using the performance-enhancing drug known as “the clear” during that grand jury testimony.
Meanwhile, Bonds requested that San Francisco County Superior Court dismiss the lawsuit June 2, according to court records reviewed by the San Jose Mercury News. The suit was dismissed without prejudice, meaning he retains the right to refile it.
In March, Bonds sued Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, publisher Gotham books, the Chronicle and Sports Illustrated, which published an excerpt of the book, “Game of Shadows.”
Bonds’ lawyers, suing under California’s unfair competition law, argued that the authors should be blocked from making money on the book because it used illegally obtained grand jury testimony.
Transcripts of the testimony were leaked from a federal investigation into the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, or Balco, where Bonds and several other major league players allegedly obtained performance-enhancing drugs.
During a March hearing, Bonds’ lawyers unsuccessfully sought a temporary restraining order on all profits from the book. At the time, Judge James Warren said he thought the lawsuit had little chance of success and the authors had raised “serious First Amendment issues.”
Bonds missed his fourth straight game Saturday night with a sore left side and most likely won’t play until San Francisco goes on the road this week.
Clearing the bases
Jason Grimsley plans to fight the Arizona Diamondbacks’ decision to withhold the remainder of his $825,000 salary. … Philadelphia catcher Mike Lieberthal was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hip. Right-hander Brian Sanches was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace him on the roster. … Washington outfielder Jose Guillen was activated off the DL after being sidelined with a strained right hamstring. The Nationals optioned outfielder Mike Vento to Triple-A New Orleans. … The Kansas City Royals optioned right-hander Leo Nunez to Triple-A Omaha to make room on the roster for pitcher Todd Wellemeyer, claimed off waivers from Florida on Friday. … The Milwaukee Brewers recalled RHP Carlos Villanueva from Double-A Huntsville and placed pitcher Jorge De La Rosa on the 15-day DL with a blister on the middle finger of his left hand. … The Boston Red Sox recalled left-hander Jon Lester from Pawtucket and optioned RHP Craig Hansen to Triple-A. … Milwaukee center fielder Brady Clark left the game against St. Louis Cardinals after straining his right shoulder on a throw to first baseman Prince Fielder in the second inning.