Brother disputes reason for McGwire steroid use

Jay McGwire heard big brother Mark say last month he only took steroids to heal, and not to get stronger. That doesn't match Jay McGwire's recollection.

"Mark knew that he was going to get the strength and endurance and size. I know that the main motive to justify taking steroids was healing," Jay McGwire said in an interview with the Associated Press. "I know that for a fact. But in the long run he knew the strength and the size and endurance will increase. I don't know why he's coming across that it was all healing."

Estranged from his brother for 8 years because of a family dispute, Jay McGwire has gone public in "Mark and Me: Mark Mc-Gwire and the Truth Behind Baseball's Worst-Kept Secret," which is scheduled for publication Monday by TriumphBooks.

When he finally admitted last month that he used steroids, Mark McGwire said it was only for healing. His brother said that was the initial purpose but it's obvious the slugger also gained strength.

Jay McGwire says in the book he persuaded his brother to start using steroids regularly in 1994 and set him up with a supplier. He says Mark regularly used an array of drugs that included Deca-Durabolin, human growth hormone, Dianabol, Winstrol and Primobolan in addition to andro-stenedione, a steroid precursor that wasn't banned by baseball until 2004, when it became a controlled substance in 2004.

Jay McGwire, who turns 40 on May 5, said he was introduced to steroids by bodybuilder friends in 1989, beginning with Anavar pills.

* Major League Baseball hopes to test minor leaguers for human growth hormone this year following the suspension of a British rugby player who admitted using the substance. The United Kingdom Anti-Doping authority announced a 2-year ban Monday for Terry Newton, saying he was the first athlete suspended for using human growth hormone. A blood test has been in existence since the 2004 Athens Olympics, but baseball officials have said until now that its validity was not universally accepted by the scientific community.

* Derek Jeter, entering the final season of a $189 million, 10-year deal, reiterated what every Yankees fan wanted to hear: He hopes to play in pinstripes forever. The All-Star shortstop added that he won't speak publicly about the matter again until after the season ends.

* Texas Rangers centerfielder Josh Hamilton left morning workouts after bruising his shoulder. Hamilton was diagnosed with a left shoulder contusion after he dived to catch a ball during a pop-up drill. No MRI is scheduled and the 29-year-old is listed as day-to-day.

Meanwhile, manager Ron Washington says he plans to use slugger Vladimir Guerrero, who came to Texas after a 6-year stint with the Angels, in rightfield at times this season.

* The New York Mets finalized a 1-year, $500,000 deal with Rod Barajas, giving the team six catchers in camp who played in the majors last year, with no clear starter.

* Former World Series MVP Livan Hernandez agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals and will compete for a spot in the rotation. If added to the 40-man roster, the righthander would get a $900,000, 1-year contract and the chance to earn $1.25 million in performance bonuses.

The 35-year-old Hernandez went to spring training with the New York Mets last year on a minor league deal and won a spot in their rotation, going 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA in 23 starts before being released Aug. 20. The Nationals signed him 6 days later and Hernandez went 2-4 with a 5.36 ERA in eight starts.

* The Cleveland Indians finalized a 1-year, $2 million deal with Russell Branyan, who is expected to get the majority of playing time at first base.