Last Year’s Drug Tests of Bonds, Others Said to Survive

The samples from drug tests taken last year by Barry Bonds and six other major league players have not been destroyed and can be retested to determine whether the players used a designer drug at the center of an alleged steroid-distribution ring, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

It was thought only written reports about the tests existed, but the newspaper reported on its website Friday night that four sources with knowledge of the subpoena process said the actual urine samples remained and could be retested.

That would allow investigators to determine whether the players used THG, allegedly given to athletes by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

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Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. returned to Cincinnati from the Reds’ spring training camp in Dunedin, Fla., Friday for treatment on his injured right calf in preparation for the Reds’ home opener Monday against the Chicago Cubs.

Griffey was hurt Monday when he slipped leaving the batter’s box during an exhibition game against Pittsburgh.

Manager Dave Miley said his pitching rotation will be Cory Lidle, Paul Wilson, Jose Acevedo, Aaron Harang and Jimmy Haynes.

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Curtis Leskanic will start the season as the Kansas City Royals’ primary closer while Mike MacDougal is on the disabled list.

MacDougal, who had 27 saves last season as a rookie, is recovering from a stomach virus.

Leskanic was 1-0 with a 1.73 earned-run average and two saves after the Royals acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 2.

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The Detroit Tigers told catcher Mike DiFelice he would not make the club and assigned infielder Danny Klassen to their minor league camp in moves to set their 25-man roster.

They also purchased the contracts of right-handed pitcher Esteban Yan and infielder Greg Norton from Toledo.

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Shortstop Nomar Garciaparra is home in Boston receiving medical treatment for his injured right Achilles’ tendon. The Red Sox start the season Sunday at Baltimore, but he is expected to be sidelined at least three weeks.

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San Diego Padre utility infielder Jeff Cirillo has a broken right index finger and is expected to sit out the first four to six weeks of the season.

Cirillo was hurt trying to bunt against Texas on Monday night at Surprise, Ariz.