Union: Steroids probe goes beyond scope

May 6, 2006

NEW YORK -- Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell has asked several former and current major leaguers for medical and telephone records, requests the players' union says oversteps the scope of baseball's steroids investigation.

Michael Weiner, the union's No. 3 official, sent an e-mail to agents Friday telling them to inform the union if any clients are contacted by Mitchell.

The union told the agents that the investigation by Mitchell, who was hired by commissioner Bud Selig, was a "substantial disruption" to the bargaining relationship between the players' association and Major League Baseball.

"The scope of the investigative efforts to date are plainly inconsistent with the provisions of the basic agreement, related agreements and other statutory rights of all players," Weiner wrote.

Weiner's e-mail was first reported by Newsday and the New York Post.

The e-mail also said the union has yet to be provided with copies of the correspondence between Mitchell and the players he requested information from, or a list of the players who have been contacted.

"The association wishes to advise all current and former players contacted in connection with the investigation of their rights," Weiner wrote. "In order to facilitate this, we expect you to contact the association immediately upon learning of any communication by anyone purporting to be connected with this investigation with or regarding any current or former player."