Report: Palmeiro, Sosa records sought

The medical records of Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro are being sought by investigators in baseball’s steroids probe, the New York Times reported on its website Tuesday night.

The investigation, led by former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, is seeking the files of dozens of other players, an unidentified baseball official with direct knowledge of the request said.

Sosa and Palmeiro both played for Baltimore in 2005. The report said investigators have also asked the Orioles to send medical records pertaining to Jason Grimsley, David Segui and Fernando Tatis to those players, hoping they will release them to Mitchell.

The New York Daily News said on its website Tuesday that Mitchell’s panel wants information from former Orioles player Jerry Hairston Jr., along with Palmeiro, Segui and Tatis.

Major League Baseball and the players’ union reached an agreement earlier this week that players will decide whether to release their medical records, unidentified baseball sources told the Daily News.

Under the compromise, when Mitchell asks for a player’s history, the team will give it to the player. After that, the player will decide whether he wants to cooperate.

Sosa, now with the Texas Rangers, declined to answer any questions after Tuesday night’s game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

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The Texas Rangers activated closer Eric Gagne from the disabled list and optioned pitcher Wes Littleton to triple-A Oklahoma.