For those of you who think Major League Baseball is NOT dead...

Tucson Citizen: Steroid case costs pitcher Jason Grimsley his job

If a journeyman pitcher witha seventeen year career can elude detection...

Who am I kidding? Nobody cares.

The Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday released pitcher Jason Grimsley, one day after his home was searched by federal agents as part of an investigation into steroid use by athletes.

General Manager Josh Byrnes told a Chase Field news conference that Grimsley had requested his unconditional release in meetings with team officials Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We accepted his request,” Brynes said. Byrnes would not discuss if Grimsley would be paid the remainder of his roughly $800,000 salary.

Diamondbacks pitcher Terry Mulholland said Grimsley addressed his teammates after Tuesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 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.”

Grimsley’s locker in the calm clubhouse was empty when the room was opened to the media before this afternoon’s game with the Phillies.

Thirteen federal agents had searched the reliever’s Scottsdale home for six hours Tuesday, but they would 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. He allegedly made “extensive statements” about illegal drug use, “for the purpose of performance enhancement,” before ending his cooperation, according to the court documents.

In asking for a warrant, IRS Agent Jeff Novitsky told a federal judge that investigators wanted to search the right-hander’s house for “any and all records showing contact or relationship with any and all amateur or professional athletes, athletic coaches or athletic trainers” regarding illicit drug use and purchases.

Grimsley, 38, began his big league career with Philadelphia in 1989 and has pitched for Cleveland, California, the New York Yankees, Kansas City, Baltimore and Arizona. He has a career record of 42-58 with a 4.77 ERA.
He was not at the Chase Field on Wednesday.

According to court documents, Grimsley failed a league drug test in 2003. Authorities said when he was cooperating, he admitted to using human growth hormone, amphetamines and steroids.

Diamondback managing general partner Ken Kendrick told reporters in the dugout before Wednesday’s game that the player’s union and management need to get together on even tougher drug testing.

“We just hope the union will look at it as we do,” Kendrick said. “We’ve got to do the very best that is possible to rid ourselves of any and all drugs in our game.”