HOUSTON — A federal judge has rejected Roger Clemens’ bid to revive some of his defamation claims against Brian McNamee, clearing the way for the former trainer to file his own suit against the seven-time Cy Young Award winner.
U.S. District Court Judge Keith Ellison on Tuesday reaffirmed his earlier ruling against Clemens.
If Clemens “believes that the federal investigators or the Mitchell commission overstepped the bounds of the law, he is free to bring suit against those enemies, subject to possible immunity,” the judge said.
“This is the final nail in Clemens’ Texas coffin,” said Richard Emery, a McNamee attorney. He said McNamee intends to sue Clemens for defamation.
Clemens is under investigation by a federal grand jury in Washington that is trying to determine whether he lied when he told a congressional committee he had not used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Nady suffers major setback
NEW YORK — Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady will have ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow after reinjuring it during a minor-league rehab game.
Nady will undergo his second Tommy John operation next Wednesday. He also had the surgery in 2001.
DeRosa out with sore wrist
ST. LOUIS — Cardinals utility player Mark DeRosa has a strained tendon in his left wrist and expects to miss three or four games.
Also, St. Louis recalled infielder Jarret Hoffpauir from Memphis and optioned righthander Clayton Mortensen to the Triple-A affiliate.
Webb forgoes surgery
PHOENIX — Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb has decided not to have surgery on his ailing pitching shoulder after meeting with team doctors and three other physicians. The 2006 NL Cy Young Award winner will begin a regimen to strengthen the shoulder but isn’t expected to throw for several weeks. The club has not announced a timetable for his return.
Footnotes.
Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz left Texas’ game against the Angels in the sixth inning because of a stiff lower back.
• Shortstop Mike Aviles, Kansas City’s player of the year last season, will undergo Tommy John surgery and be sidelined for up to 12 months.
• The Pirates released outfielder Craig Monroe, who was designated for assignment last month after not hustling during a June 16 loss to Minnesota.
The Associated Press
