11 free agents in Mitchell report

November 8, 2007

11 free agents in Mitchell report

By Nick Cafardo, Globe Staff

ORLANDO -- Player agents who attended yesterday's union meeting in New York were told that 11 current free agent players are named in the George Mitchell report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball, which could come out sometime around the first of the year, and that all 11 players have been notified by the Mitchell Commission's office. Two agents who were there confirmed this today.

One agent said some of the names could be among the ones already in the news from the Albany, N.Y. and Florida raids, while there also could be a few new ones.

Gary Matthews Jr., who is not a free agent, met with MLB yesterday in New York to discuss his alleged purchase of HGH while the office is also trying to meet with Paul Byrd, the Indians' starter who also purchased HGH from 2002-2005. Jose Guillen, a free agent, is one of the 11 who allegedly bought steroids.

Most of the GMs at the meetings said they weren't concerned by this revelation, but these revelations could cost these players big money.

The union is also trying to make sure that any players who are using an enhancement for treatment of a specific ailment must make it known ahead of time what it is they might take so it can be approved. The union doesn't want their players to provide them with surprises after the fact.