Hinske and Donnelly find new homes

Eric Hinske signed a minor league deal with Tampa Bay this week.

The former American League Rookie of the Year will receive $800,000 if he makes the Major League roster, with additional incentives based on plate appearances.

The Rays will like his left handed bat on the bench, but his real value is his defensive versatility. Hinske split his time between first base and the outfield for the Red Sox in 2007, while batting .204 in 186 at bats.

Brendan Donnelly has signed a minor league contract with the Indians.

Donnelly underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2007, and is not expected to pitch until halfway through the 2008 season. He spent most of the offseason rehabbing his arm and defending himself against Radomski’s claims that he used the steroid Anavar.

He pitched in 27 games for the Red Sox in 2007, and was 2-1 with a 3.05 ERA when he was shut down for surgery. 

Donnelly calls dealer. Doesn’t pick up package

Brendan Donnelly has denied the steroid accusations levied against him in the Mitchell report, saying:

“In 2004, I was having multiple physical problems and was concerned about not getting back on the field for even close to the level I had experienced. I made a phone call to Radomski. We discussed Anavar.

“Upon learning that Anavar was classified as a steroid, I realized that was not an option. That was the end of it.”

Brendan, I like you, but your story sounds as likely as Daryl Strawberry canceling an exchange with his dealer after learning that cocaine is classified as a Class A narcotic.

In other steroid news, Dustin Pedroia has claimed that the young players in the game are part of the “clean generation.”

Of course they are, they’re young players. We’ll see what happens when they’re older and breaking down in a contract year.

Vaughn, Clemens, Gagne among former Sox named in Mitchell report

Mo Vaughn, Roger Clemens and Eric Gagne are among the former Red Sox players mentioned in the Mitchell report.

You can read the entire report here.

Here’s what I believe is the complete list of implicated former Sox players--let me know if I’ve missed any:

Roger Clemens
Mo Vaughn
Eric Gagne
Brendan Donnelly
Steve Woodard
Jose Canseco
Manny Alexander
Paxton Crawford
Jeremy Giambi
Josias Manzanillo
Chris Donnels
Mike Lansing
Kent Mercker
Mike Stanton

The portions of the report on Gagne, Clemens and Vaughn are particularly interesting to me. Here are some excerpts:

Mo Vaughn
“A former major league player has confirmed that Hill and Vaughn had a conversation in early 2001 in which Radomski’s name was mentioned. Radomski recalled that Vaughn had an ankle injury and called him for advice.Radomski told Vaughn that human growth hormone would help his ankle heal faster. Radomski said that thereafter he sold human growth hormone to Vaughn.

Radomski also provided Vaughn with a program for the use of the human growth hormone.

Radomski said that he delivered the substances to Vaughn personally. Radomski produced three checks deposited into Radomski’s accounts and drawn on Vaughn’s checking account: two checks for $3,200 each, and one check for $2,200.

Radomski said that the two checks in the amount of $3,200 were each for two kits of human growth hormone. He stated that the check in the amount of $2,200 might have been for one-and-a-half kits of human growth hormone. Radomski said that he did not sell Vaughn steroids because Vaughn was “afraid of the big needles."”

Eric Gagne
“Paul Lo Duca and Gagné were teammates with the Dodgers from 1999 to 2004. Although he is not sure when, Radomski recalled that Lo Duca called Radomski and told Radomski that Gagné was with him and wanted to buy human growth hormone. Gagné then came onto the phone and asked Radomski a question about how to get air out of a syringe. This is the only time Radomski spoke to Gagné. Radomski said that Lo Duca thereafter placed orders on Gagné’s behalf.”

“When the Boston Red Sox were considering acquiring Gagné, a Red Sox official made specific inquiries about Gagné’s possible use of steroids. In a November 1, 2006 email to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, “Have you done any digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?” The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded,

“Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues. Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent 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 . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne . . .”

Roger Clemens
“Toward the end of the road trip which included the Marlins series, or shortly after the Blue Jays returned home to Toronto, Clemens approached McNamee and, for the first time, brought up the subject of using steroids. Clemens said that he was not able to inject himself, and he asked for McNamee’s help.

Later that summer, Clemens asked McNamee to inject him with Winstrol, which Clemens supplied. McNamee knew the substance was Winstrol because the vials Clemens gave him were so labeled. McNamee injected Clemens approximately four times in the buttocks over a several-week period with needles that Clemens provided. Each incident took place in Clemens’s apartment at the SkyDome. McNamee never asked Clemens where he obtained the steroids.”

“According to McNamee, from the time that McNamee injected Clemens with Winstrol through the end of the 1998 season, Clemens’s performance showed remarkable improvement. During this period of improved performance, Clemens told McNamee that the steroids “had a pretty good effect” on him. McNamee said that Clemens also was training harder and dieting better during this time. In 1999, Clemens was traded to the New York Yankees. McNamee remained under contract with the Blue Jays for the 1999 season. In 2000, the Yankees hired McNamee as the assistant strength and conditioning coach under Jeff Mangold. According to McNamee, the Yankees hired him because Clemens persuaded them to do so. In this capacity, McNamee worked with all of the Yankees players.”

To be clear, Mo Vaughn is accused of using while he was with the Mets, Gagne with the Dodgers, and Clemens with the Blue Jays and Yankees.

I haven’t read all of the reports yet, but so far I haven’t seen mention of juicing in Boston.