The names of two members of the 2007 World Series-winning Red Sox appeared in former Senator George Mitchell's report, which was released yesterday: Eric Gagné, who came to the team in a trade with the Rangers at the trading deadline in July, and Brendan Donnelly, who was acquired in an offseason deal with the Angels.
But a link to the Red Sox and steroids began with the seizure of utility player Manny Alexander's car in June 2000 - the glove compartment contained steroids and syringes - and Paxton Crawford's admission that he used steroids while pitching for the Sox. In all, 14 former members of the Red Sox were named in the report, though they did not all use performance-enhancing drugs during their time in Boston.
"The Boston Red Sox have supported and fully cooperated with this investigation initiated by commissioner [Bud] Selig and conducted by Senator Mitchell," the Red Sox said in a statement yesterday. "The senator and his staff should be thanked and commended for their dedication and independent efforts in producing this important report.
"It is imperative that we continue to educate our players on the dangers and unfairness of performance-enhancing drugs and to do everything we can to eliminate them entirely from the game of baseball."
But Alexander and Crawford's steroid involvement is not news. The naming of Gagné and Donnelly was.
Gagné won the National League Cy Young Award in 2003 and also had 84 straight saves, which stands as the all-time record. But, according to the report, Gagné was also linked to the use of human growth hormone. In e-mails from general manager Theo Epstein to Red Sox scout Marc DelPiano, the team was concerned about the possibility of Gagné using performance-enhancing drugs before trading for him.
The link to Gagné came through former Dodgers teammate Paul Lo Duca. Former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski told the Mitchell investigation team that Lo Duca called him, while with Gagné, requesting HGH for the closer. And Gagné asked Radomski how to get air out of a syringe. Radomski said he sent two packages to Gagné, each of which contained two kits of HGH. Included in the report is a copy of an Express Mail receipt from a package Radomski sent to Gagné at Dodger Stadium.
Mitchell obtained copies of an e-mail sent from Epstein to DelPiano on Nov. 1, 2006, along with a response that indicated the GM had questions about Gagné. "Have you done any digging on Gagné?" Epstein wrote. "I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medicals?"
DelPiano responded, "Some digging on Gagné and steroids IS the issue. Has a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body, and reinvent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce-back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup to play as it once did."
Another e-mail was included from a member of the Red Sox front office. Concerning Donnelly, assistant director of baseball operations Zach Scott wrote, "He was a juice guy but his velocity hasn't changed a lot over the years . . . If he was a juice guy, he could be a breakdown candidate."
Radomski fingered Donnelly in the report, indicating that Donnelly contacted him in 2004 trying to obtain the anabolic steroid Anavar. Radomski told the investigation team he sold Donnelly Deca-Durabolin once, receiving a payment of $250 to $300.
Just 14 hours before the report was released to the public, the Red Sox declined to tender a contract to Donnelly by the deadline, making him a free agent, though vice president of media relations John Blake said yesterday the team had no knowledge of the names contained within the report before the nontender deadline.
During the winter meetings, the Sox said they were working on bringing Donnelly back, even though Donnelly underwent Tommy John surgery in August. He likely will not pitch in the majors until July.
In January, the Sox were asked to turn over computers and other documentation to Mitchell's team, and complied. Jack McCormick, the team's traveling secretary, was asked in July about Carlos Cowart, the clubhouse attendant who was approached by police on June 30, 2000, while in
During a search of the vehicle, police found two hypodermic needles and a bottle of anabolic steroids in the glove compartment. Charges were filed against Alexander, but were dropped. McCormick said he was not able to provide any additional information because he was with the team on a road trip at the time of the incident.
Crawford was linked to performance-enhancing drugs in a story published in 2006 in ESPN The Magazine. He said he used steroids and HGH during his time in Boston. His admission included a story in which he spilled syringes onto the floor of the clubhouse, an incident that drew laughter from his teammates. Crawford was not interviewed by Mitchell's team, but people associated with the Red Sox at the time were, and no one interviewed recalled that moment in the clubhouse.
Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com.
