Caminiti Violated His Probation

Ken Caminiti, the former San Diego Padre and National League most valuable player, acknowledged Tuesday in Houston that he violated his probation by testing positive for cocaine last month and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

State District Judge William Harmon, however, gave Caminiti credit for time he already has served in jail or a treatment center since he received three years deferred adjudication for felony cocaine possession in March 2001.

As a result, Caminiti, who already has spent 189 days behind bars, was expected to be released from jail within 24 hours, his attorney Terry Yates said.

If Caminiti successfully had completed his probation, the conviction would not have appeared on his record. Because he acknowledged failing a drug test in September, a guilty verdict was entered in the case.

“Essentially, it is a wash,” Yates said. “One of the reasons that Ken decided to go ahead and accept this adjudication now is because he has got some great opportunities.”

Yates said Caminiti is considering doing development work in Montana and his agent is talking to the Padres about an opportunity for Caminiti to join the team next spring as a coach at the major or minor league level.

“He’s got a lot of things he’s going to pursue and he couldn’t do that if he stayed here and continued to be on probation,” Yates said. “We decided it was in his best interest to go ahead and get this behind him. Get on with his life. He’s got a bright future. He really does. And he is looking forward to getting on with that future.”

Caminiti has acknowledged that he has a cocaine problem and continues to work to defeat it, Yates said.

“He knows what he needs to do. It’s just a matter of him doing it,” Yates said. “We think that once he gets some things in his life, some positive things, like getting back into baseball, working with these kids in baseball and teaching them and working with them ... he won’t need the drugs anymore.”

Caminiti has failed four drug tests since going on probation in 2002 for possession of cocaine, according to his probation officer.

*

Detroit exercised its option on Alan Trammell’s three-year contract as manager, keeping him with the team through the 2006 season. The Tigers went 72-90 last season after losing 119 games in his first year.

*

Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. Casey is expected to recover in six to eight weeks. Casey batted .324 and drove in 99 runs this season.