MLB Wire Notes | Yanks' Rivera supports Pettitte

NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera is backing Andy Pettitte.

After completing his $45 million, three-year contract with the New York Yankees on Monday, Rivera said he was impressed with Pettitte for admitting that he used human growth hormone after his name was included in the Mitchell Report.

"The thing that I admire is that he came out and said he did it," Rivera said on a conference call.

Rivera was surprised to hear Pettitte was included last week in the report with Roger Clemens and several others on the Yankees teams that won four World Series titles from 1996 to 2000.

Pettitte later said he used HGH while on the disabled list during the 2002 season.

The Yankees' career saves leader said he spoke with Pettitte after the report was released and understood why the left-hander chose to try HGH. Pettitte said he was trying to hurry his recovery from an elbow injury and help his team.

"I might have done the same thing. Who knows?" Rivera said.

But Rivera also said he had "no idea" any of his teammates were using performance-enhancing drugs and that he was too "naive" to know what HGH was.

The 38-year-old Rivera insisted that the Yankees' legacy was safe even though 11 players from their championship run were included in the Mitchell Report. They included Clemens, David Justice, Chuck Knoblauch and Mike Stanton.

"I don't think that we have to defend anything," Rivera said. "Those years were hard work and a lot of dedication. The whole team was involved, not just two guys."

Rivera said he didn't need to hear from Clemens because he doesn't even know if the right-hander used performance enhancers, but that if the report is true — about Clemens and others — "the best thing to do is bring it out and put an end to it."

Notes

• Former major-leaguer Fernando Vina admitted using HGH in 2003 as he attempted to heal from injuries. Vina, now an ESPN baseball analyst, was named in the Mitchell Report, which said he also purchased steroids from ex-Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski. Vina denied those claims.

"I never bought steroids from him. All I used was HGH," Vina said in an interview on ESPN.

An All-Star second baseman with Milwaukee in 1998, Vina also played for the Mariners, Mets, Cardinals and Tigers during a 12-year career that ended in 2004.

At 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, Vina said he wasn't trying to bulk up — his job was to use his quickness to get on base. He said he turned to HGH hoping to get healthy from knee and hamstring injuries.

"Obviously, it was wrong," Vina said. "I'm embarrassed by it."

• Indians RHP Paul Byrd met with baseball officials to discuss his use of human growth hormone. Before Game 7 of the AL Championship Series in Boston, Byrd acknowledged taking HGH, saying it was for a medical condition and did so only under a doctor's supervision.

• A few days after admitting he used HGH, backup C Gary Bennett signed a $875,000, one-year deal with the Dodgers. Bennett was among 85 players implicated in the Mitchell Report. He later told The Washington Post: "As far as the report is concerned to me, it's accurate."

The 35-year-old Bennett played 59 games for St. Louis last season, batting .252 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in. The Dodgers will be his eighth major-league team.

• C Javy Lopez is trying a comeback with his former team, agreeing to a minor-league contract with the Braves. Lopez was out of the majors in 2007 after being cut by Colorado in spring training. Atlanta invited Lopez to spring camp, where he will compete for a backup job behind Brian McCann.

• A woman who says she dated Nationals OF Elijah Dukes filed a domestic-violence charge against him last week, according to Florida court records. Amanda E. Reese, 23, is due in court this morning, where she will seek extended protection stemming from incidents in which she says Dukes sent her threatening text messages in October and November.

• The final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium will be Sept. 21 against Baltimore, and New York is raising prices for its best box seats by $100 to $250. The Yankees plan to move in 2009 into a new ballpark.

The Washington Post contributed to this report.