MLB Gets Early Look at Steroid Report

Major League Baseball officials have viewed an advance copy of George J. Mitchell's long-awaited report on steroid use in baseball, according to a source familiar with the investigation. The viewing occurred Monday at the Manhattan law offices of Mitchell, the former Senate majority leader who was tabbed by Commissioner Bud Selig to lead the investigation in March 2006.

Mitchell's report is expected to be released tomorrow and is expected to contain the names of dozens of past and current players who used performance-enhancing drugs. A spokesman for Mitchell's office said Mitchell had no comment yesterday, but Mitchell previously said he planned to give MLB an advance look at the report.

In a telephone interview yesterday, Selig said he had not seen Mitchell's report but said, "I told George Mitchell to find out as much as he could, whether I like it or I don't." Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations and point person on drug testing, did not return an e-mail seeking comment.

The Major League Baseball Players Association also asked Mitchell for permission to view the report in advance of its release, according to two sources familiar with the request. However, union Executive Director Donald Fehr said that had not occurred as of yesterday evening.

"All I can tell you is we have not seen it," Fehr said. "I don't know what Major League Baseball has seen."

Mitchell's investigators spoke with front office and clubhouse personnel from all 30 major league teams, but lacked the subpoena power to compel testimony from players. New York Yankees designated hitter Jason Giambi is the only active player known to have spoken to Mitchell, and his testimony came only after Selig insisted on it after a USA Today article that quoted Giambi implicitly admitting steroids use.

Mitchell, 74, also had the cooperation of Kirk Radomski, the former New York Mets clubhouse attendant who, as part of a plea agreement after his arrest in April on charges of distributing steroids and other drugs, agreed to assist the investigation. In addition, Mitchell may have received information from the Albany, N.Y., district attorney's office, which has been investigating a nationwide steroid distribution ring.

After former Washington Nationals outfielder Jose Guillen and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Jay Gibbons were suspended for 15 games last week following media reports that linked their names to drug use, it was viewed as a precursor for possible punitive action against those named in Mitchell's report.

Selig did not address how, or whether, those players would be disciplined, but he said, "I did not intend this [investigation] to be punitive."

Staff writer Thomas Boswell contributed to this report.