Did MLB Agents Set Players Up With Steroids Doctor?

You know, this whole concept wouldn’t surprise me. Just think about the sheer basics here: agents make money off their clients, clients get more money if they produce more on the field, steroids increase production, agent refers player to steroids place, all parties are happy. Couple that cycle with the fact that many agencies are “full-service,” and probably have all sorts of connections for their clients e.g. personal trainers, investment advisors, hookers to bang on the road … etc. Adding all that up, and does this report really surprise you?

Agents for Major League Baseball players referred their clients to a California doctor to obtain anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday in federal court in San Jose.

According to the indictment brought by the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of California, Dr. Ramon Scruggs was charged with 11 counts, including distribution of anabolic steroids, money laundering and aiding and abetting. The indictment was handed down in March but unsealed Wednesday.
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The indictment does not name Scruggs’ clients, but he was linked last year to prescribing steroids to Mets reliever Scott Schoeneweis and Troy Glaus of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003 and 2004. Scruggs also appeared in the Mitchell Report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball.

Now how about this one: Schoeneweis’ agent is non other than Scott Boras — the king of getting his clients maximum dollars. Like I said, agents do everything from negotiating contracts to picking up jimmy hats for their clients. Would this really be a stretch? I don’t think so. It’s not something I could ever do in fair conscience, but that’s also why I’ve never wanted to be an agent.