Rivera comes to Pettitte's defense
Mariano Rivera is backing Andy Pettitte.
After completing his $45 million, three-year contract with the New York Yankees on Monday, Rivera said he was impressed with Pettitte for admitting that he used human growth hormone after his name was included in the Mitchell Report.
"The thing that I admire is that he came out and said he did it," Rivera said on a conference call.
Rivera was surprised to hear Pettitte was included last week in the report with Roger Clemens and several others on the Yankees teams that won four World Series titles from 1996-2000.
Pettitte later said he used HGH while he was on the disabled during the 2002 season.
"It was definitely the wrong thing to do," Rivera said.
The Yankees' career saves leader said he spoke with Pettitte after the report was released and understood why the left-hander chose to try HGH. Pettitte said he was trying to hurry his recovery from an elbow injury and help his team.
"I might have done the same thing. Who knows?" Rivera said.
But Rivera also said he had "no idea" any of his teammates were using performance-enhancing drugs and that he was too "naive" to know what HGH was.
The 38-year-old Rivera insisted that the Yankees' legacy was safe even though 11 players from their championship run were included in the Mitchell Report. They included Clemens, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch and Mike Stanton.
"I don't think that we have to defend anything," Rivera said. "Those years were hard work and a lot of dedication. The whole team was involved, not just two guys."
Byrd meets with MLB: Cleveland Indians pitcher Paul Byrd met with baseball officials Monday to discuss his use of human growth hormone.
It's uncertain whether Byrd will face any discipline from the commissioner's office or when a potential punishment might be handed down.
Among those at the meeting were Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president for labor relations, and Michael Weiner, general counsel for the players' association.
Before Game 7 of the AL championship series in Boston, Byrd acknowledged taking HGH after the San Francisco Chronicle reported he spent nearly $25,000 on the banned drug and syringes from 2002-05. His name was included last week in the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.
The 37-year-old right-hander claims he took HGH for a medical condition and did so only under a doctor's supervision.
Byrd said baseball officials knew he had been taking the drug, which he said he often stored in clubhouse refrigerators. MLB officials did not confirm they knew Byrd was taking HGH.
The Chronicle reported Byrd purchased HGH while pitching for Kansas City, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Angels.
Last month, the Indians picked up Byrd's $7.5 million option for 2008. He went 15-8 with a 4.59 ERA in 31 starts this season, his most wins since 2002 with the Royals. He also was 2-0 with a 3.60 ERA in 2 playoff starts.
Donnelly refutes report: Former Red Sox reliever Brendan Donnelly denied claims in baseball's Mitchell Report that he used performance-enhancing drugs.
In the report, the culmination of a 20-month investigation into steroid use in baseball that was released Thursday, former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski recalled that Donnelly called him in 2004 looking for Anavar, an anabolic steroid. The report said Radomski made one sale to Donnelly of Deca-Durabolin for which Donnelly paid $250 to $300.
In a statement published by ESPN.com and the Boston Herald, Donnelly admits calling Radomski to discuss Anavar in 2004, when the pitcher was injured.
"Upon learning that Anavar was classified as a steroid, I realized that was not an option," Donnelly said. "That was the end of it. Yes, I called him. But I did not purchase or receive anything from him. I never took Deca or Anavar. I do want to fully support the testing program of Major League Baseball, and I support wider testing."
Donnelly told ESPN.com that he was "sick to my stomach" about being included in the report, saying he hasn't slept since it was released.
Dodgers sign Bennett: A few days after admitting he used human growth hormone, backup catcher Gary Bennett signed a free-agent contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bennett was among 85 players implicated last week in the Mitchell Report. He later told The Washington Post: "As far as the report is concerned to me, it's accurate."
The 35-year-old Bennett played 59 games for St. Louis last season, batting .252 with 2 home runs and 17 RBI. The Dodgers will be his eighth major-league team.
The Mitchell Report said Bennett bought two kits of HGH from former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski in 2003. Bennett played for San Diego then, and told the Post he was trying to recover from a sprained right knee when he used HGH.
"Obviously, it was a stupid decision," Bennett told the newspaper. "It was a mistake. It was something that quite obviously, you regret now."
Bennett signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers, and will back up all-star Russell Martin.
Lopez attempts comeback: Javy Lopez is trying a comeback with his former team after agreeing to a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves.
The catcher was out of the majors this year after he was cut by Colorado in spring training. He played for the Braves from 1992-2003 and was selected to three all-star teams.
Atlanta invited Lopez to spring training, where he will compete for a backup job behind starting catcher Brian McCann.
The 37-year-old Lopez is a career .287 hitter with 260 home runs and 864 RBI. He was an all-star with the Braves in 1997, 1998 and 2003, when he hit .328 with 43 homers and 109 RBI -- all career bests for a full season.