Grand jury probes Roger Clemens

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury is investigating whether Roger Clemens lied under oath to Congress last year when he denied taking performance-enhancing drugs, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.

The sources said the grand jury was convened several months ago, in response to a referral in February by Congress asking the Justice Department to investigate Clemens' sworn statements in a deposition and his testimony during a hearing Feb. 13. But the grand-jury probe was described by the sources as a routine part of such an investigation and that no indictment or other public action was imminent.

Clemens, 46, is a seven-time Cy Young Award winner who last pitched in the major leagues in September 2007. He told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform during the Feb. 13 hearing that he had "never taken steroids or HGH [human growth hormone]" but that he had received injections of vitamin B12 and the painkiller lidocaine from team personnel over the years.

Clemens' statements contradicted the testimony and assertions of other witnesses, including Brian McNamee, a former personal trainer who has been cooperating with federal authorities and who told the House committee he had personally injected Clemens with steroids and HGH at least 38 times between 1998 and 2001, at Clemens' request.

Two weeks after the hearing, the committee, headed by chairman Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and then-ranking minority member Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., formally asked the Justice Department to investigate Clemens.

Notes

• Proviant Technologies, the company that makes the dietary supplement Philadelphia pitcher J.C. Romero said he took before testing positive for a banned substance, said its product was untainted and might have caused a false positive for the anabolic steroid androstenedione, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Romero has been suspended for 50 games.

• Closer Jose Valverde and the Houston Astros avoided salary arbitration when they agreed to a one-year, $8 million contract.

Other players who re-signed with their teams included Milwaukee shortstop J.J. Hardy (one year, $4.65 million), Atlanta's versatile Omar Infante (two years, $4.325 million) and Cleveland catcher Kelly Shoppach (one year, $1.95 million).

• Pitcher Tim Redding, previously with the Washington Nationals, completed his one-year, $2.25 million deal with the New York Mets.

• Outfielder Gabe Kapler, who hit .301 for Milwaukee last year, agreed to a one-year, $1,000,018 contract with Tampa Bay. Kapler considers 18 his lucky number. The 33-year-old had been mentioned as a possibility for the Mariners.

• The Boston Red Sox scheduled a news conference for today to announce the signing of John Smoltz, 41, a former Atlanta pitcher who said he will be used as a starter. He has a 210-147 record and 154 saves.

• Manager Davey Johnson's staff for the U.S. team at the World Baseball Classic will include auxiliary coaches Barry Larkin, Mike Schmidt and Bill Ripken; pitching coach Marcel Lachemann and hitting coach Reggie Smith.