BASEBALL Pitcher Jason Grimsley released by D'backs

A steroid search turned up human growth hormone in the pitcher's home.
PHOENIX (AP) -- Pitcher Jason Grimsley was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, a day after his home was searched by federal agents following his admission he used human growth hormone, steroids and amphetamines.
The raid -- and Grimsley's implication of other major league ballplayers -- was the latest sign that widespread investigations into drug use by athletes are still active, even in the era of tougher testing.
Grimsley's agent told The Associated Press he thought this would mark the end of the 38-year-old reliever's career.
"My guess is Jason's done playing," Joe Bick said in a telephone interview. "I couldn't anticipate that he would play again, but that's his call.
"He didn't want to be a distraction to the team."
Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said Grimsley asked for his unconditional release in meetings with team officials Tuesday and Wednesday.
"We accepted his request," Byrnes said.
The raid
Thirteen federal agents searched Grimsley's home in Scottsdale, Ariz., for six hours Tuesday, but they would not reveal what they found. Investigators who cracked the BALCO steroid scandal in San Francisco said Grimsley initially cooperated in the probe but withdrew his assistance in April, prompting Tuesday's search.
According to court documents released Tuesday, authorities tracked a package containing two "kits" of human growth hormone -- about a season's supply -- that was delivered at Grimsley's house on April 19.
Moments later, agents armed with a warrant offered him an option: Cooperate with their investigation into athletes using performance-enhancing drugs, or submit to an immediate search. Grimsley agreed to be interviewed.
He proceeded to detail his "receipt and use of anabolic steroids, amphetamines and human growth hormone over the last several years," but said he went exclusively with HGH when baseball's testing program began.
Grimsley also identified several other players who he said had used or supplied the drugs, though their names were blacked out from court documents. They included a handful of former teammates and one player he identified as one of his "better friends in baseball," adding that it was common knowledge that "Latin players" were a major source for amphetamines in the sport.
He also identified a personal fitness trainer to several major league ballplayers who once referred him to an amphetamine source that later supplied him with an array of drugs.
Ongoing investigation
The investigation is being run by prosecutors and authorities in San Francisco, where five Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative defendants pleaded guilty to distributing or developing steroids.
U.S. Attorney Kevin Ryan of San Francisco said the government's continuing investigation will "diligently follow the evidence."
"Clearly," he added, "we're not done."
A federal grand jury in San Francisco is also investigating whether San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds lied under oath about using the performance-enhancing drug known as "the clear" during his grand jury testimony that led to the indictment of four people connected to BALCO.
Grimsley's locker was empty when the clubhouse was opened to the media before the afternoon game against Philadelphia at Chase Field.
As for the remainder of Grimsley's $825,000 salary, "there was no negotiation," Bick said. "Released players get paid."
Grimsley was 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in 19 games as a long reliever this season, his first with Arizona.
Diamondbacks pitcher Terry Mulholland said Grimsley addressed his NL West-leading teammates after Tuesday's loss to the Phillies.
"He expressed to us that he had too much respect for us to allow this to bring us down," Mulholland said. "He's that kind of guy."
Former Kansas City teammate Jeremy Affeldt said he talked to Grimsley earlier in the day.
"He's down. It's an embarrassing thing when you get caught. It was a judgment call on his part. I think he knows it was wrong. I don't think he would deny that," Affeldt said.