Right-hander Eric Gagné, who signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the Brewers last week, is named in Sen. George Mitchell's report on performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.

The report, released today, says that Gagné acquired performance-enhancing drugs from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski, who supplied several other players and cooperated with the investigation.

According to the report, Gagné purchased human growth hormone from Radomski for $3,200. Gagne paid by check, which he sent via Federal Express. Radomski supplied Mitchell with a copy of an Express Mail receipt showing that Gagné received the shipment at Dodger Stadium while pitching for the Dodgers, for whom he won the National League Cy Young Award in 2003.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin released a statement on the matter:

"The Milwaukee Brewers organization is fully committed to eliminating the use of performance enhancing substances from baseball, and we fully support Senator Mitchell's report. We also fully support Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Player's Association's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. In both the Major and Minor Leagues, our organization regularly educates our players about the dangers of performance enhancing substances, strongly encourages players to avoid their use and outlines the repercussions that these substances will have on their health and career.

"In regard to any players that we have signed, traded for or will acquire in the future, our goal is to field the best team possible based on information we have in hand. Our recent signing of Eric Gagne was based on an analysis of our needs and how he could help fill a key role. While we were disappointed to see information from 2004 related to Eric in the report, we still firmly believe that his addition to the Club makes us a much stronger team as we head into the 2008 campaign.

"Senator Mitchell's report credits the Commissioner for laying the groundwork for the testing program and found that the current program has been effective. The report contains historical information from which we can learn and outlines several steps for improving Major League Baseball's drug testing program. We fully support these measures."

Several former Brewers are mentioned in the report, including infielder Fernando Vina, infielder David Bell, catcher Gary Bennett and pitchers Josias Manzanillo, Ricky Bones, Darren Holmes, Ron Villone and Steve Woodard. Here is what the report says about some of the players with Brewers ties:

Manzanillo: Josias Manzanillo pitched for eight teams in Major League Baseball between 1991 and 2004, the Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and Florida Marlins.

Kirk Radomski stated that when he was working for the Mets in 1994, Manzanillo asked Radomski to inject him with the steroid Deca-Durabolin that Manzanillo provided.

Radomski did so in the Mets clubhouse. Radomski said that this was the only instance in which he actually observed a major league player using steroids.

In order to provide Manzanillo with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me. His lawyer proposed arranging an interview, but we were unable to do so before the completion of the investigation.

His lawyer provided the following proffer of what Manzanillo would say if he was interviewed: Manzanillo claimed that a Mets clubhouse attendant nicknamed "Murdock" approached him repeatedly in the early 1990s and encouraged him to buy steroids. (Radomski's nickname when he worked in the Mets clubhouse was "Murdock.") The clubhouse attendant reportedly told Manzanillo that if he used steroids he would gain velocity on his fastball. Manzanillo ultimately paid for one cycle of steroids from "Murdock" for approximately $200-$250. After paying for the steroids, Manzanillo's lawyer said, he "chickened out or thought better of it" and never actually took possession of the steroids. Through his lawyer, Manzanillo denied ever using performance enhancing substances.

Radomski said that he did not sell any steroids to Manzanillo and that his only substance-related involvement with Manzanillo was when he injected him with steroids in the clubhouse. Radomski stated that he remembered the event clearly because it was the only time he ever injected a player with steroids.

In 2001, Manzanillo was playing with the Pittsburgh Pirates. According to records produced by the Commissioner's Office, on Sept. 7, 2001, Jose Cervantes was detained by a resident security agent at the Angels' stadium in Anaheim. Cervantes reportedly was found to be in possession of various prescription medications; he admitted that he brought drugs across the Mexican border and sold them to a number of major league players (but not steroids or human growth hormone).

Cervantes provided the investigators with the names of those players to whom he had sold drugs; he also provided them with his cell phone and allowed them to retrieve the telephone numbers of those players. Cervantes said that he provided anti- inflammatory medications to Manzanillo, and Manzanillo's name and telephone number were among those listed. Through his lawyer, Manzanillo said that he "knew nothing about such an incident" or why his name was in Cervantes's cell phone directory.

Villone: Ron Villone has been a pitcher with ten teams in Major League Baseball since 1995, the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Ron Villone Ron Villone has been a pitcher with ten teams in Major League Baseball since 1995, the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, and New York Yankees.

Radomski recalled that he was referred to Villone by Denny Neagle. Both Neagle and Villone played for the Colorado Rockies in 2001. Radomski said that from 2004 to 2005, he made three sales to Villone, each for two kits of human growth hormone. Radomski often recommended that his customers purchase two kits in a single order.

Villone first purchased human growth hormone from Radomski during the 2004 season. Radomski sent this order to Villone at the Seattle Mariners' clubhouse. For the second transaction, Radomski met Villone during the 2004-'05 off-season at a diner where Radomski personally delivered the human growth hormone to him. Villone's third purchase from Radomski took place during the 2005 season. Radomski sent that package to Villone's residence in Seattle.

Radomski charged Villone $3,200 for each of these three transactions. Villone paid Radomski in cash each time. On two occasions, Villone mailed Radomski a Mariners' yearbook in which he had placed cash inside the pages of the book. On the one occasion when Radomski delivered the human growth hormone to Villone in person, Villone handed him the cash.

In mid-June 2006, Villone called Radomski and inquired about obtaining more human growth hormone. This phone call occurred after the federal search warrant had been executed on his home. Radomski informed Villone that he "was dry" and did not have anything to sell to him.

Villone's name, with an address and telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents. In order to provide Villone with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.

Vina: Fernando Vina played several positions with five teams in Major League Baseball from 1993 until 2004, the Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, and Detroit Tigers. He played in the 1998 All-Star game and won two National League Golden Glove Awards as a second baseman. During the 2007 baseball season, he was a commentator for ESPN's Baseball Tonight.

While Radomski was working for the Mets as a clubhouse attendant in 1993, he met Vina, who was then in the Mets minor league system. Radomski stated that he sold anabolic steroids or human growth hormone to Vina six to eight times during 2000 to 2005. Radomski produced three checks from Vina. Radomski stated that these checks reflected a March 2003 purchase by Vina of human growth hormone, an April 2003 purchase by Vina of steroids, most likely Winstrol, and a July 2005 purchase by Vina of Deca-Durabolin. All of the checks are included in the Appendix. One is shown below.

Radomski recalled details of these steroids sales, including a discussion with Vina about how quickly Winstrol will "clear the body" and another discussion in which Vina said that the July 2005 purchase of Deca-Durabolin was intended to assist Vina in preparing for spring training in 2006. Vina's name, with an address and two telephone numbers, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents.

In order to provide Vina with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me. He did not respond to my request.

Gagné: Eric Gagné is a relief pitcher who began his career in Major League Baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and played with the Dodgers through 2006. In 2007, he played for the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox, and in December he signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 2002 and 2003, Gagné was the Los Angeles Dodgers Player of the Year. In 2003, he saved 55 games and won the Cy Young Award and the National League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. In 2004, he saved 45 games and again won the National League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. He has played in three All-Star games.

Paul Lo Duca and Gagné were teammates with the Dodgers from 1999 to 2004.

Although he is not sure when, Radomski recalled that Lo Duca called Radomski and told Radomski that Gagné was with him and wanted to buy human growth hormone. Gagné then came onto the phone and asked Radomski a question about how to get air out of a syringe. This is the only time Radomski spoke to Gagné. Radomski said that Lo Duca thereafter placed orders on Gagné's behalf.

Radomski said that he mailed two shipments to Gagné, each consisting of two kits of human growth hormone. One was sent to Gagné's home in Florida; the other was sent to Dodger Stadium. Federal agents seized from Radomski's home a copy of an Express Mail receipt showing a shipment to "Dodger Stadium, c/o Eric Gagne -- L.A. Dodgers Home Club, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, California 90012" dated Aug. 9, 2004. A copy of this receipt is included in the Appendix and is shown below. Radomski said that this was for one of the shipments of human growth hormone to Gagné.

Lo Duca paid Radomski for one of the shipments to Gagné by cashier's check in the amount of $3,200. The Lo Duca checks supplied by Radomski reflect two payments of $3,200 (each the cost of two kits) within a six-week time frame during the summer of 2004. Radomski said that, on one other occasion, Gagné sent Radomski $3,200 in cash by FedEx.

According to notes of the October 2003 meetings of Dodgers officials, it was reportedly said of Gagné that: "he probably takes medication and tendons and ligaments don't build up just the muscle."

When the Boston Red Sox were considering acquiring Gagné, a Red Sox official made specific inquiries about Gagné's possible use of steroids.

In a Nov. 1, 2006 e-mail to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, "Have you done any digging on Gagné? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?"425 The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded, Some digging on Gagné and steroids IS the issue. Has had a checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues.

Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max effort plus stuff ... Mentality without the plus weapons and without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back durability and ability to throw average while allowing the change- up to play as it once did ... Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagné ...

In order to provide Gagné with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.

Bennett: Gary Bennett, Jr. is a catcher who since 1995 has played with seven teams in Major League Baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals.

Radomski said that Denny Neagle referred Bennett to him. Neagle and Bennett were teammates in 2001 and 2002 with the Colorado Rockies. Radomski recalled one transaction with Bennett in July 2003 for two kits of human growth hormone. Radomski produced one check from Bennett payable to Kirk Radomski in the amount of $3,200 dated July 13, 2003. A copy is included in the Appendix and is shown below.

Bennett's name, with an address and a telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski's residence by federal agents.

In order to provide Bennett with information about these allegations and to give him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.

David Bell: In a March 6, 2007 article, Sports Illustrated identified David Bell, a former player who spent parts of twelve seasons as an infielder with six different major league teams (the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Milwaukee Brewers) as one of the customers who appeared in records seized from Applied Pharmacy Services of Mobile, Alabama. According to the article, Bell reportedly purchased six packages of human chorionic gonadatropin ("HCG") from the pharmacy in April 2005 while he was playing for the Philadelphia Phillies.462 HCG is a hormone that is produced during pregnancy; it is used by steroid abusers to counteract the effects of steroid use on the body's natural production of testosterone.

Bell's orders of HCG reportedly were prescribed by an Arizona anti-aging clinic.

The Sports Illustrated article reported that Bell acknowledged to reporters that he received the drugs but explained that he had received a prescription for them "for a medical condition" that he refused to identify, citing medical privacy laws.

Neither I nor any member of my investigative staff had any prior knowledge of any allegation about Bell.

Woodard: In a Sept. 7, 2007 article, the New York Daily News reported that Steve Woodard, a former pitcher who played with four different major league clubs over seven seasons ending in 2003 (the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Boston Red Sox), received a shipment of steroids and human growth hormone from The Health and Rejuvenation Center, the same Palm Beach Gardens anti-aging center that reportedly supplied St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel. The article did not state when the shipment to Woodard allegedly occurred.

Neither I nor any member of my investigative staff had any prior knowledge of any allegation about Woodard.

Darren Holmes
In a March 8, 2007 article, Sports Illustrated reported that former pitcher Darren Holmes had purchased human growth hormone (somatropin) and testosterone from the Palm
Beach Rejuvenation Center in October 2003, which was shipped to Holmes's home in North

He also reportedly said that he had not ordered the testosterone that was included in the package, which aroused his suspicion. After discussing whether to use the human growth hormone with his wife, Holmes reportedly said that he "threw the box away and never used it."