Lawyer: Bonds Is Target of Trap

Barry Bonds’ lawyer says the federal government is singling out the San Francisco Giant slugger in the Bay Area steroid scandal.

Michael Rains told the New York Times that the federal government appears intent on trying to set a perjury trap for Bonds. “I think they’re trying to make an example out of him,” Rains was quoted as saying by the paper.

Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, was among four men indicted last month on charges of supplying illegal performance-enhancing drugs from the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. All four pleaded not guilty.

Bonds has denied that he used steroids, an assertion his lawyer made again to the Times.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday that urine samples given last season by seven major league baseball players for testing were being sought by a federal grand jury examining the BALCO case.

That would allow investigators to determine whether the players used THG, which allegedly was given to athletes by BALCO.

It was logical to assume that Bonds told the grand jury during testimony last fall that he did not use steroids, Rains said. But if a urine test showed that he had tested positive for THG or some other steroid, Bonds could then become vulnerable to a charge of perjury over his testimony to the grand jury.

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The Oakland Athletics agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Mark McLemore to provide some much-needed infield depth.

Second baseman Mark Ellis, who has a dislocated right shoulder, is expected to be out at least two months, and backup infielder Frank Menechino is sidelined because of a strained right calf. They both were put on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 26.

McLemore was released by the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last month. The A’s don’t expect him to be available until late April. They also put him on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to March 26.

In another move, the A’s optioned right-handed starter Rich Harden to triple-A Sacramento because they don’t need a fifth starter the first 1 1/2 weeks of the season.

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Jose Reyes’ strained right hamstring will prevent him from starting the season with the New York Mets, who put the second baseman on the 15-day disabled list.

The Mets purchased the contracts of outfielders Shane Spencer and Eric Valent and right-hander Scott Erickson from triple-A Norfolk. Erickson will be the fifth starter.

Reyes, 20, injured his hamstring March 14 while stealing a base during a spring training game against the Minnesota Twins.

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MIT finally has its first major league player. Reliever Jason Szuminski, who earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from MIT in 2000, won a spot on the San Diego Padres’ 25-man roster.... Second baseman Bo Hart was optioned to triple-A Memphis by the St. Louis Cardinals. He became expendable after the acquisition of Tony Womack on March 21. Womack beat out Hart and Marlon Anderson for the job.... The Colorado Rockies purchased the contracts of pitcher Shawn Estes and shortstop Royce Clayton.