Two members of the 2007 Boston Red Sox roster, Eric Gagné and Brendan Donnelly, were in the Mitchell Report but there alleged use didn’t happen while they were members of the Red Sox.
The big question is what did Theo Epstein know about the alleged transgressions of Gagné and Donnelly.
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 November 1, 2006 email to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, “Have you done any digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do you hear on his medical?â€
The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded,
Some digging on Gagne 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 changeup to play as it once did . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will follow Gagne . . .
More after the jump
In considering whether to trade for Donnelly in 2007, Red Sox baseball operations personnel internally discussed concerns that Donnelly was using performance-enhancing substances. In an email to vice president of player personnel Ben Charington dated December 13, 2006, Zack Scott of the Red Sox baseball operations staff wrote of Donnelly: “He was a juice guy but his velocity hasn’t changed a lot over the years . . . If he was a juice guy, he could be a breakdown candidate.†Kyle Evans of the baseball operations staff agreed with These concerns, responding in an email that “I haven’t heard many good things about him, w[ith] significant steroid rumors.â€
Does Theo and the front office staff need to be held accountable for signing players who allegedly had used performance-enhancing drugs? And with the Red Sox non-tendering Brendan Donnelly for the 2008 season, did the previous knowledge of alleged use of steroids factor into the decision of not bringing him back?
Yes, Donnelly won’t be able to pitch until the second half of the year due to Tommy John surgery. Also, did his alleged use of steroids help cause the injury which required the surgery?
Do we as Red Sox fans want to know what Theo and his staff were thinking? I would think that we do want answers but I highly doubt we will get the answers to those questions.
Information in the quotes was taken from the Mitchell Report.
