Mariners' Boone joins 'Canseco's lying' gang

By wire services
Published February 13, 2005

SEATTLE - Jose Canseco's tell-all book strongly implies that Mariners second baseman Bret Boone used steroids in 2001, according to an excerpt of the book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant "Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big."

Reached by the Seattle Times, Boone became the latest player to deny Canseco's allegations, calling them "absolutely ridiculous."

In the book, to be released Monday, Canseco tells of an incident during a spring training game in 2001 between the Mariners, who had just signed Boone to a free-agent deal, and Canseco's Angels.

"I hit a double, and when I got out there to second base, I got a good look at Boone," Canseco writes. "I couldn't believe my eyes. He was enormous.

"Oh, my God,' I said to him. "What have you been doing?' " "Shhh,' he said. 'Don't tell anybody.'

"Whispers like that were a sign that you were part of the club - the bond of a secret code or handshake. You were united by the shared knowledge and the experience of unlocking so much more of your body's natural potential. Still, though, sometimes you just had to laugh - and it was that way with Bret Boone. Sure enough, Bret used his hulking new body to go crazy that season."

In 2001 Boone hit .331 and had 37 home runs and 141 RBIs, all career highs.

Responding to Canseco's version of the incident, Boone told the paper, "I don't know him. He doesn't know me. I don't think I've ever exchanged more than two, three words with him. The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. End of story. I'm not going to comment beyond that. It's so ridiculous. That incident he writes about in the book is false. The most I've ever said to him is, "What's up, Jose?' "

A check of spring-training records from 2001 shows Canseco batted four times against the Mariners and had no doubles. He reached base once, and it was not clear if he reached second.

ORIOLES: Reliever Jorge Julio agreed to terms on a $2.5-million, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

ROYALS: Closer Jeremy Affeldt will make $950,000 this season after losing in salary arbitration. Affeldt, who made $350,000 last year, asked for $1.2-million.

[Last modified February 13, 2005, 01:08:17]