Few Rays connections in Mitchell Report
Although there are big names in the Mitchell report released today, no current Rays players were named in the investigation and there appear to be few connections to the Rays organization.
Jose Canseco is mentioned prominantly. Former Rays outfielder Jose Guillen is mentioned in the report to have purchased human growth hormone. Short-time former Rays like John Rocker, Jim Parque, Tim Laker and Adam Piatt are also mentioned in the report.
Piatt, who played parts of four seasons with Oakland before he was released and claimed by the Rays in Aug. 2003 (He played just 14 games with Tampa Bay, hitting .188), plays an interesting role in the report.
He purchased performance-enhancing drugs, including human growth hormone, from Kirk Radomski and used them during the 2002 and 2003 offseasons. Piatt's locker was next to Miguel Tejada's when the two played in Oakland and Piatt told the investigation he introduced the All-Star shortstop to Radomski, from whom Tejada purchased performance enhancing drugs through. Piatt served as an intermediary. Tejada wrote checks of $3,100 and $3,200 directly to Piatt in March, 2003, who paid Radomski.
Pitchers Ryan Franklin and Bart Miadich, who were boths in Rays spring training this past season, as well as Denny Neagle, who signed with the Rays in 2005 but never pitched for them, are mentioned in the report as well.
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