Clubhouse attendant avoids jail
Former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski avoided jail and was sentenced Friday to five years’ probation after cooperating with baseball’s investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Radomski was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco to pay an $18,575 fine after he admitted selling steroids, human growth hormone and speed to dozens of current and ex-major leaguers.
“These are very, very serious offenses,” said Illston, who lectured that some of Radomski’s best customers served as role models to children.
Radomski pleaded guilty last April to distributing steroids and laundering money from 1995 until Dec. 14, 2005, when agents raided his Long Island home.
Radomski led investigators to Brian McNamee, the former Yankees strength coach who claimed he injected Roger Clemens with steroids and human growth hormone at least 16 times from 1998-01, an allegation the seven-time Cy Young Award winner vehemently denies.
As part of his plea agreement, Radomski was required to cooperate with federal investigators and former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, who headed baseball’s doping probe.
Radomski is required to continue that cooperation. He is scheduled to testify along with Clemens and McNamee on Wednesday before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
“It sounds like Radomski provided a lot of information that was helpful to the government,” said Earl Ward, McNamee’s lead lawyer.
Schilling uncertain
Curt Schilling’s doctor insists the only way the 20-year veteran can pitch again is through surgery on a torn shoulder tendon that resembles strands of pasta.
Boston’s team physician disagrees. He believes the tendon is damaged, not torn, and rehabilitation gives Schilling the best chance to play this year.
“The problem has probably been building up for two years, and he just went over the red line,” Schilling’s physician, Dr. Craig Morgan. “Instead of being a single tendon, it’s like three pieces of spaghetti or linguine, and when that happens it’s end-stage disease in the tendon.”
A third doctor, New York Mets medical director David Altchek, agreed that the tendon was torn but said surgery would probably sideline him for the season, Morgan said.
Clearing the bases
Left-handed reliever Kent Mercker agreed to a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds and was invited to spring training. Mercker spent 17 years in the big leagues, making 677 appearances with nine different teams. … Manager Ned Yost‘s 2009 option was exercised by the Milwaukee Brewers following their first winning season in 15 years. … The San Francisco Giants and right-hander Kevin Correia agreed to a $1,075,000 contract for 2008. … Reliever Keith Foulke ended his retirement and returned to Oakland, agreeing to a $700,000, one-year contract that allows him to earn $1.25 million more in performance bonuses.