WASHINGTON — All-star shortstop Miguel Tejada has been charged with lying to Congress about an ex-teammate’s use of steroids, the latest baseball player to get caught up in a web of cheating and juicing that has stained the sport.
Tejada is expected to plead guilty in court today. The charges against him were outlined in documents filed Tuesday in federal court.
The teammate is not identified in court documents, but he is referred to as having played with Tejada on the Athletics. Tejada won the 2002 AL MVP award while playing for Oakland and is a five-time all-star. He now plays for the Astros.
The documents indicate a plea agreement has been reached with Tejada. The court papers were filed a day after Alex Rodriguez acknowledged past use of performance- enhancing drugs. The Yankees third baseman does not face charges.
The FBI also is investigating whether Roger Clemens, a seven- time Cy Young Award winner, lied to Congress last year when he denied using steroids or human growth hormone.
Tejada faces up to a year in jail if convicted on the misdemeanor charge of making misrepresentations to Congress. Under federal guidelines, he likely would receive a lighter sentence.
Rodriguez turned out to be just one name on the infamous list of players who tested positive for banned drugs during baseball’s anonymous survey in 2003.
Former union head Marvin Miller called for an investigation of federal prosecutors to help determine whether there was a government leak of the test results, which remain under court seal.
“I think the first question ought to be: 104 names all testing positive, but you leak only A-Rod’s. Why is that?” Miller said.
The fate of “the list” will be determined next by 11 appeals court judges in California.
If prosecutors are allowed to use the list and bring players before grand juries and trial courts, additional stars might be forced to admit they used steroids.
“I want to know who these other 100 guys are,” Hall of Famer Goose Gossage said. “Let’s get it all out in the open. It certainly is not fair to A-Rod or to (Barry) Bonds. They’re dragging A-Rod down.”
Footnotes.
Mets ace Johan Santana tested his surgically repaired left knee, saying after throwing off a mound for the first time since last season: “I feel fine. I was excited to get on the mound. It’s time to play baseball.”
• Former Rockies pitcher Ramon Ortiz agreed to a minor-league contract with the Giants after spending last season in Japan.
• The Rangers finalized minor- league deals with outfielder Andruw Jones and reliever Brendan Donnelly, who was one of 80-plus players named in the Mitchell report on doping in baseball in December 2007.
• The Angels are expected to sign outfielder Bobby Abreu by Saturday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
• All-star catcher Dioner Navarro, who hit a team-high .295 with seven homers and 54 RBIs last year, lost to the Rays in salary arbitration and will receive the team’s $2.1 million offer rather than his $2.5 million request.
• The Royals and former Rockies pitcher Jamey Wright agreed to a minor-league deal.
The Associated Press
