PORT ST. LUCIE – Barry Bonds’ quest for employment has a backer in baseball union chief Donald Fehr.
Speaking here yesterday as part of his annual tour of spring-training camps, Fehr said, “It’s a shame” that clubs continue to back away from baseball’s all-time home run leader.
Under indictment for perjury and under a cloud of suspicion about steroid use, Bonds understandably has drawn no takers as a 43-year-old free agent this spring.
“I don’t know why it is,” Fehr said of Bonds’ plight. “Obviously, we’ve noticed [the lack of inter est]. I think it’s a shame, but that’s the way it is.”
Fehr spoke with Met players for about two hours yesterday morning at Tradition Field. He wouldn’t reveal details except to say it was a lively, varied discussion that included mention of the Mitchell Report.
Former Met Bobby Bonilla, now Fehr’s top assistant with the Players Association, also was on hand.
As well as sticking up for Bonds, Fehr chided Congress for its recent hearing into the Roger Clemens-Brian McNamee dispute.
“Congressional hearings are not well-suited for trying to decide questions of credibility, especially in circumstances like [the Clemens-McNamee tiff],” Fehr said. “That’s best left for private litigation, and such litigation is pending.”
Fehr also repeated his position the players would be open to blood testing for human growth hormone.
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The Dodgers’ Jeff Kent refuses to speak directly about former teammates Bonds and Roger Clemens, but said he believes baseball has taken great strides in its battle against performance-enhancing drugs and hopes it continues, no matter who might be affected.
“The people who have a say are trying to clean the game up,” Kent said yesterday. “I’m happy for it, I really am. It needs it. If they’re going to run over a few players along the way, well, that’s what’s happening.”