Eric Gagné
Eric Gagné is a relief pitcher who began his career in Major League Baseball with
the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999 and played with the Dodgers through 2006. In 2007, he
played for the Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox, and in December he signed with
the Milwaukee Brewers. In 2002 and 2003, Gagné was the Los Angeles Dodgers Player
of the Year. In 2003, he saved 55 games and won the Cy Young Award and the National
League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. In 2004, he saved 45 games and again won the
National League Rolaids Relief Pitcher of the Year. He has played in three All-Star
games.
Paul Lo Duca and Gagné were teammates with the Dodgers from 1999 to 2004.
Although he is not sure when, Radomski recalled that Lo Duca called Radomski and told
Radomski that Gagné was with him and wanted to buy human growth hormone. Gagné
then came onto the phone and asked Radomski a question about how to get air out of a
syringe. Thisis the only time Radomski spoke to Gagné. Radomski said that Lo Duca
thereafter placed orders on Gagné’s behalf.
Radomski said that he mailed two shipments to Gagné, each consisting of two kits
of human growth hormone. One was sent to Gagné’s home in Florida; the other was sent
to Dodger Stadium. Federal agents seized from Radomski’s home a copy of an Express
Mail receipt showing a shipment to “Dodger Stadium, c/o Eric Gagne – L.A. Dodgers
Home Club, 1000 Elysian Park Ave., Los Angeles, California 90012” dated August 9,
2004. A copy of this receipt is included in the Appendix and is shown below. Radomski
said that this was for one of the shipments of human growth hormone to Gagné.
Lo Duca paid Radomski for one of the shipments to Gagné by cashier’s check in
the amount of $3,200. The Lo Duca checks supplied by Radomski reflect two payments
of $3,200 (each the cost of two kits) within a six-week time frame during the summer of
2004. Radomski said that, on one other occasion, Gagné sent Radomski $3,200 in cash by
FedEx.
According to notes of the October 2003 meetings of Dodgers officials, it was reportedly
said of Gagné that: “he probably takes medication and tendons and ligaments don’t build
up just the muscle.”
When the Boston Red Sox were considering acquiring Gagné, a Red Sox official
made specific inquiries about Gagné’s possible use of steroids. In a November 1, 2006
email to a Red Sox scout, general manager Theo Epstein asked, “Have you done any
digging on Gagne? I know the Dodgers think he was a steroid guy. Maybe so. What do
you hear on his medical?” The scout, Mark Delpiano, responded,
Some digging on Gagne and steroids IS the issue. Has had a
checkered medical past throughout career including minor leagues.
Lacks the poise and commitment to stay healthy, maintain body
and re invent self. What made him a tenacious closer was the max
effort plus stuff . . . Mentality without the plus weapons and
without steroid help probably creates a large risk in bounce back
durability and ability to throw average while allowing the changeup
to play as it once did . . . Personally, durability (or lack of) will
follow Gagne . . .
In order to provide Gagné with information about these allegations and to give
him an opportunity to respond, I asked him to meet with me; he declined.