Investigators Willing To Share Radomski Files With Mitchell

Bunning Could Persuade MLBers To Cooperate With Steroid Investigation

Federal investigators said that they are willing to provide MLB steroid investigator George Mitchell “with evidence used to build a case against” former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who admitted in a plea agreement that he “distributed steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs to professional baseball players,” according to Amy Shipley of the WASHINGTON POST. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Parrella: “Are documents, etcetera, going to be turned over? That's part of the concept, but I can't lay out a schedule or roster of documents. We will make an evaluation item by item.” Shipley notes with “hard evidence to corroborate Radomski's testimony in the group's eventual report ... it would be difficult for implicated players to undercut the work and almost impossible for baseball officials to discredit it.” Players have “suggested Radomski has incentive to embellish the facts or make things up to get a more favorable sentence.” Two legal experts said that government investigators are “legally barred from turning over evidence associated solely with grand jury proceedings,” but “most of the evidence found in a raid of Radomski's residence likely would be fair game.” It is “unclear whether the list of 23 checks for nearly $34,000 from MLB-associated individuals found in Radomski's bank account would be included, because that information originally was obtained for a grand jury proceeding.” Parrella: “The big picture is we want to advance the cause of justice. ... This seems like a reasonable way to do that” (WASHINGTON POST, 5/4).

FALLING IN LINE: ESPN.com’s Gene Wojciechowski wrote under the header, “Radomski Could Have Domino Effect In MLB Steroid Era.” Congress “is paying attention to these latest developments, which is never a good thing” for MLB or the MLBPA. U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY), a baseball HOFer, indicated “several weeks ago it might be time to subpoena ballplayers if they don't cooperate with Mitchell’s investigation]. What's next, steroid legislation? After all, an election year is coming up” (ESPN.com, 5/3).