Source: Deal close for new drug rules

Associated Press

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Lawyers for baseball players and owners were close to an agreement Wednesday on changes to toughen their drug rules, and the sides hoped to strike a deal by Sunday.

An agreement likely would eliminate the 15-day suspensions imposed in December on Kansas City's Jose Guillen and Baltimore's Jay Gibbons after they were linked to performance-enhancing drugs.

Negotiators discussed changes this week in Arizona and neared a deal, two people familiar with the talks said , speaking on condition of anonymity because talks were ongoing. The agreement would make testing tougher and strengthen the authority of the independent program administrator.

NO COMMENT: Alex Rodriguez refused to address allegations by Jose Canseco, who claims he introduced the Yankees star to a steroids dealer.

"It's over as far as I'm concerned," Rodriguez said Wednesday after New York lost 4-0 to the Phillies. "No further comment on the matter. I'm just excited to be playing baseball."

In the book, "Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and The Battle to Save Baseball," Canseco claimed he introduced Rodriguez to a steroids dealer named "Max." Excerpts from the book, scheduled for publication Tuesday, were posted on Deadspin.com before being removed Wednesday.

SURGERY FOR ESCOBAR? Right-hander Kelvim Escobar, an 18-game winner for the Angels last season, said he has a tear in his pitching shoulder and might need surgery, though the team didn't confirm his diagnosis.

Escobar, 31, said he would continue to try and strengthen his arm, but admitted surgery could be a possibility. Escobar hasn't pitched in spring training.

ETC.: Yankees left-hander Andy Pettitte threw 36 pitches during a bullpen session and remains on target to start New York's third or fourth game. . . . Masumi Kuwata, 39, one of the top pitchers in Japanese baseball history, retired from the Pirates. . . . . Baltimore president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said he's not close to trading Brian Roberts to the Chicago Cubs. . . . Former major league manager Preston Gomez was critically injured when he suffered head injuries as a result of being struck by a pickup truck at a gas station in Blythe, Calif.