Torre: Wells Knows Ephedra Limitations

New York Yankee Manager Joe Torre is more comfortable about pitcher David Wells’ use of ephedra after talking with him Sunday.

Wells occasionally uses an over-the-counter supplement containing the substance, which a medical examiner linked to the death of Baltimore Oriole pitcher Steve Bechler.

“He seems to have a grip on it as far as what he knows he can do,” Torre said. “That’s all you ask for. Just as long as you know what you’re doing.”

Bechler died Monday, a day after collapsing at spring training with heatstroke. Although ephedra is banned by the NFL, the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee, use of the substance, which is available without prescription, is allowed in baseball.

Torre said it’s hard to tell someone not to do something when you can go into a drug store and buy it.

Ephedra was one of the topics discussed during the club’s spring training team meeting Tuesday. The team advises players not to use it.

Wells was hospitalized at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for an irregular heartbeat during spring training 1996 while with the Baltimore Orioles. Treatment included stopping his heart and then restarting it with a defibrillator.

At the time, Wells said he was using a product called Ripped Fuel, which has ephedra. But he does not believe ephedra should be banned.

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The Arizona Diamondbacks signed All-Star infielder Junior Spivey to a two-year contract. Spivey led the club with a .301 batting average, 103 runs, 162 hits and 34 doubles.

Spivey made only $215,000 last season. The club did not disclose the financial terms of the new contract.

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Starting pitcher Jon Lieber of the Yankees, who is coming off elbow surgery, is expected to start throwing from a bullpen mound this week.

Lieber, a right-hander who turns 33 in April, had a ligament in his right elbow replaced on Aug. 7. He went 20-6 in 2001 for the Chicago Cubs and was 6-8 with a 3.70 earned-run average last season before the ligament was replaced.